Foldable electronic device including hinge assembly

ABSTRACT

An electronic device is provided, which includes a first housing; a second housing; a hinge housing; a hinge assembly; first and second hinge plates covering at least part of the hinge assembly; an FPCB; and a flexible display. The hinge assembly includes a support portion having a plurality of support grooves and at least part of the first and second hinge plates may be supported by the support grooves in an unfolded state of the electronic device.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION(S)

This application is based on and claims priority under 35 U.S.C. § 119to Korean Patent Application No. 10-2020-0015993, which was filed in theKorean Intellectual Property Office on Feb. 10, 2020, the entiredisclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference.

BACKGROUND 1. Field

The disclosure relates generally to a foldable electronic deviceincluding a hinge assembly.

2. Description of Related Art

Electronic devices have been developed in a portable or wearable mannerto improve mobility and accessibility. The electronic devices haveevolved to be lighter and thinner for ease of portability, and forconvenience of use. For example, a foldable electronic device having aflexible display provides a relatively larger screen than a generalbar-type electronic device, but decreases in size when folded, therebyimproving portability.

A foldable electronic device may include a flexible display and aplurality of housings. The plurality of housings and the flexibledisplay may be coupled by a hinge assembly, allowing the housings torotate within a designated range according to a user's manipulation.Through a process of rotating the plurality of housings, the electronicdevice may transition from a folded state to an unfolded state or maytransition from the unfolded state to the folded state.

However, some regions of the flexible display may not be supported bythe hinge assembly. Therefore, the some regions of the flexible displaymay sag, or may be damaged due to sagging.

SUMMARY

The disclosure is provided to address at least the problems and/ordisadvantages described above and to provide at least the advantagesdescribed below.

An aspect of the disclosure is to provide a support structure capable ofsafely supporting a flexible display to prevent the flexible displayfrom sagging or being damaged due to sagging.

Another aspect of the disclosure is to provide a support structurecapable of safely supporting a flexible display when an electronicdevice is in an unfolded state, without affecting a driving trajectoryof the flexible display.

Another aspect of the disclosure is to provide a support structurecapable of preventing a flexible display from being damaged andimproving flatness of the flexible display.

In accordance with an aspect of the disclosure, an electronic device isprovided, which includes a first housing including at least one firstelectronic component; a second housing including at least one secondelectronic component; a hinge housing disposed between the first andsecond housings; a hinge assembly assembled to the hinge housing torotatably couple the first and second housings; first and second hingeplates covering at least part of the hinge assembly and coupledrespectively to the first and second housings; a flexible printedcircuit board (FPCB) electrically coupling the first and secondelectronic components via the hinge housing; and a flexible displaydisposed from one region of the first housing to at least one region ofthe second housing across the hinge assembly. The hinge assemblyincludes a first bracket coupled to at least one region of the firsthousing to rotate about a virtual first rotation axis; a second bracketcoupled to at least one region of the second housing to rotate about avirtual second rotation axis; a fixing bracket supporting the firstbracket and the second bracket; and a support portion including aplurality of support grooves, the support portion being located betweenthe FPCB and the flexible display. At least part of the first and secondhinge plates is supported by the support grooves in an unfolded state ofthe electronic device.

In accordance with another aspect of the disclosure, an electronicdevice is provided, which includes a first housing including at leastone first electronic component; a second housing including at least onesecond electronic component; a hinge housing disposed between the firstand second housings; a hinge assembly assembled to the hinge housing torotatably couple the first and second housings; first and second hingeplates fastened respectively to the first and second housings andcovering at least part of the hinge assembly; a flexible printed circuitboard (FPCB) electrically coupling the first and second electroniccomponents via the hinge housing; and a flexible display disposed fromone region of the first housing to at least one region of the secondhousing across the hinge assembly. The hinge assembly includes a supportportion located between the FPCB and the flexible display, and the firstand second plates comprise first and second protrusion portions,respectively, which are mounted by the first and second arms when theelectronic device is in a folded state and supported by the supportportion when the electronic device is unfolded by 180 degrees.

In accordance with an aspect of the disclosure, an electronic device isprovided, which includes a first housing; a second housing; a hingeassembly assembling the first housing and the second housing so that thesecond housing is rotatable about the first housing; first and secondhinge plates fastened respectively to the first and second housings andcovering at least part of the hinge assembly; and a flexible displaydisposed from one region of the first housing to at least one region ofthe second housing across the hinge assembly. The hinge assemblyincludes a first hinge structure including a first bracket coupled to atleast one region of the first housing to rotate about a virtual firstrotation axis, and a second bracket coupled to at least one region ofthe second housing to rotate about a virtual second rotation axis; asecond hinge structure including a third bracket spaced apart from thefirst hinge structure and coupled to at least one region of the firsthousing to rotate about the virtual first rotation axis, and a fourthbracket coupled to at least one region of the second housing to rotateabout the virtual second rotation axis; and a support portion having aplurality of groves constructed thereon and coupled to at least oneportion of the first and second hinge structures. At least one portionof the first and second hinge plates is supported by the grooves in anunfolded state of the electronic device.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

The above and other aspects, features, and advantages of certainembodiments of the disclosure will be more apparent from the followingdescription taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, inwhich:

FIG. 1 illustrates an electronic device in a network environmentaccording to an embodiment;

FIGS. 2A to 2C illustrate a foldable electronic device in a folded stateaccording to an embodiment;

FIGS. 3A to 3C illustrate a foldable electronic device in a 180-degreeunfolded state according to an embodiment;

FIG. 4A illustrates an exploded view of an electronic device in anunfolded state according to an embodiment;

FIG. 4B illustrates an exploded perspective view of an inner structureof an electronic device according to an embodiment;

FIGS. 5A to 5C illustrate a process of opening/closing an electronicdevice according to an embodiment;

FIG. 6 illustrates an exploded perspective view of a hinge structureaccording to an embodiment;

FIG. 7A illustrates a perspective view of a support portion according toan embodiment;

FIG. 7B illustrates a plan view of a support portion according to anembodiment;

FIG. 7C illustrates a lateral view of a support portion according to anembodiment;

FIG. 8A illustrates a hinge assembly fastened to an unfolded electronicdevice according to an embodiment;

FIG. 8B illustrates a plan view of a hinge structure according to anembodiment;

FIG. 9 illustrates a perspective view of a hinge structure and a hingehousing that are separated according to an embodiment;

FIG. 10A illustrates a hinge structure when an electronic device is inan unfolded state according to an embodiment;

FIG. 10B illustrates a hinge structure when an electronic device rotatesfrom an unfolded state to a folded state according to an embodiment;

FIG. 10C illustrates a hinge structure when an electronic device is in afolded state according to an embodiment;

FIG. 10D illustrates operations of a support portion when an electronicdevice rotates from an open state to a closed state according to anembodiment;

FIG. 11 illustrates a fixing portion and a detent structure of a hingestructure according to an embodiment;

FIGS. 12A and 12B illustrate a coupling relationship between an armstructure and a detent structure of a hinge structure according to anembodiment;

FIG. 13 illustrates an enlarged view of a hinge structure according toan embodiment;

FIG. 14A illustrates a compressed state of an elastic member and firstand second arms of a hinge structure when an electronic device is anunfolded state according to an embodiment;

FIG. 14B illustrates an elongated state of an elastic member and firstand second arms of a hinge structure when an electronic device is in afolded state according to an embodiment;

FIG. 15A illustrates a cross-section of a hinge structure when anelectronic device is in a 180-degree unfolded state according to anembodiment;

FIG. 15B illustrates a perspective view of a cross-section of a hingeassembly when an electronic device is an unfolded state according to anembodiment;

FIG. 15C illustrates a cross-section of a hinge structure when anelectronic device is in a folded state according to an embodiment;

FIG. 15D illustrates a cross-section of a hinge structure while anelectronic device is folded according to an embodiment;

FIG. 16 illustrates a hinge assembly fastened to an unfolded electronicdevice according to an embodiment;

FIG. 17A illustrates a support portion in a mounting state according toan embodiment;

FIG. 17B illustrates a perspective view of the support portion of FIG.17A, cut along the line C-C′;

FIG. 17C illustrates a cross-sectional view of the support portion ofFIG. 17A, cut along the line C-C′;

FIG. 18 illustrates a cross-sectional view of the support portion ofFIG. 17A, cut along the line D-D′;

FIGS. 19A to 19C illustrate a process of opening/closing an electronicdevice according to an embodiment.

FIG. 20A illustrates a mounting state of first and second hinge platesin a 180-degree unfolded electronic device according to an embodiment;

FIG. 20B illustrates an enlarged view of a protrusion portion mounted toa support groove of FIG. 20A;

FIG. 20C illustrates a cross-sectional view cut along the line E-E′ ofFIG. 20B;

FIG. 20D illustrates a first hinge plate in a folded electronic deviceaccording to an embodiment;

FIG. 20E illustrates a second hinge plate in a folded electronic deviceaccording to an embodiment;

FIG. 20F illustrates operations of a hinge plate when an electronicdevice rotates from a closed state to an open state according to anembodiment;

FIGS. 21A to 21C illustrate a process of opening/closing an electronicdevice according to an embodiment;

FIG. 22A illustrates a cap fastened to a fastening portion of a supportportion according to an embodiment;

FIG. 22B illustrates a cross-sectional view of a cap fastened to afastening portion of a support portion, cut along the line G-G′ of FIG.22A;

FIG. 22C illustrates a cap according to an embodiment;

FIG. 23A illustrates tape attached to a first face of a support portionaccording to an embodiment; and

FIG. 23B illustrates a cross-sectional view, cut along the line F-F′ ofFIG. 20A, of tape attached to a first face of a support portionaccording to an embodiment.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Hereinafter, various embodiments of the disclosure will be described indetail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

FIG. 1 illustrates an electronic device 101 in a network environment 100according to an embodiment.

Referring to FIG. 1, the electronic device 101 in the networkenvironment 100 may communicate with an electronic device 102 via afirst network 198 (e.g., a short-range wireless communication network),or at least one of an electronic device 104 or a server 108 via a secondnetwork 199 (e.g., a long-range wireless communication network).According to an embodiment, the electronic device 101 may communicatewith the electronic device 104 via the server 108. According to anembodiment, the electronic device 101 may include a processor 120,memory 130, an input module 150, a sound output module 155, a displaymodule 160, an audio module 170, a sensor module 176, an interface 177,a connecting terminal 178, a haptic module 179, a camera module 180, apower management module 188, a battery 189, a communication module 190,a subscriber identification module (SIM) 196, or an antenna module 197.In some embodiments, at least one of the components (e.g., theconnecting terminal 178) may be omitted from the electronic device 101,or one or more other components may be added in the electronic device101. In some embodiments, some of the components (e.g., the sensormodule 176, the camera module 180, or the antenna module 197) may beimplemented as a single component (e.g., the display module 160).

The processor 120 may execute, for example, software (e.g., a program140) to control at least one other component (e.g., a hardware orsoftware component) of the electronic device 101 coupled with theprocessor 120, and may perform various data processing or computation.According to one embodiment, as at least part of the data processing orcomputation, the processor 120 may store a command or data received fromanother component (e.g., the sensor module 176 or the communicationmodule 190) in volatile memory 132, process the command or the datastored in the volatile memory 132, and store resulting data innon-volatile memory 134. According to an embodiment, the processor 120may include a main processor 121 (e.g., a central processing unit (CPU)or an application processor (AP)), or an auxiliary processor 123 (e.g.,a graphics processing unit (GPU), a neural processing unit (NPU), animage signal processor (ISP), a sensor hub processor, or a communicationprocessor (CP)) that is operable independently from, or in conjunctionwith, the main processor 121. For example, when the electronic device101 includes the main processor 121 and the auxiliary processor 123, theauxiliary processor 123 may be adapted to consume less power than themain processor 121, or to be specific to a specified function. Theauxiliary processor 123 may be implemented as separate from, or as partof the main processor 121.

The auxiliary processor 123 may control at least some of functions orstates related to at least one component (e.g., the display module 160,the sensor module 176, or the communication module 190) among thecomponents of the electronic device 101, instead of the main processor121 while the main processor 121 is in an inactive (e.g., sleep) state,or together with the main processor 121 while the main processor 121 isin an active state (e.g., executing an application). According to anembodiment, the auxiliary processor 123 (e.g., an image signal processoror a communication processor) may be implemented as part of anothercomponent (e.g., the camera module 180 or the communication module 190)functionally related to the auxiliary processor 123.

According to an embodiment, the auxiliary processor #23 (e.g., theneural processing unit) may include a hardware structure specified forartificial intelligence model processing. An artificial intelligencemodel may be generated by machine learning. Such learning may beperformed, e.g., by the electronic device #01 where the artificialintelligence is performed or via a separate server (e.g., the server#08). Learning algorithms may include, but are not limited to, e.g.,supervised learning, unsupervised learning, semi-supervised learning, orreinforcement learning. The artificial intelligence model may include aplurality of artificial neural network layers. The artificial neuralnetwork may be a deep neural network (DNN), a convolutional neuralnetwork (CNN), a recurrent neural network (RNN), a restricted Boltzmannmachine (RBM), a deep belief network (DBN), a bidirectional recurrentdeep neural network (BRDNN), a deep Q-network, or a combination of twoor more thereof, but is not limited thereto. The artificial intelligencemodel may, additionally or alternatively, include a software structureother than the hardware structure.

The memory 130 may store various data used by at least one component(e.g., the processor 120 or the sensor module 176) of the electronicdevice 101. The various data may include, for example, software (e.g.,the program 140) and input data or output data for a command relatedthereto. The memory 130 may include the volatile memory 132 or thenon-volatile memory 134.

The program 140 may be stored in the memory 130 as software, and mayinclude, for example, an operating system (OS) 142, middleware 144, oran application 146.

The input module 150 may receive a command or data to be used by anothercomponent (e.g., the processor 120) of the electronic device 101, fromthe outside (e.g., a user) of the electronic device 101. The inputmodule 150 may include, for example, a microphone, a mouse, a keyboard,a key (e.g., a button), or a digital pen (e.g., a stylus pen).

The sound output module 155 may output sound signals to the outside ofthe electronic device 101. The sound output module 155 may include, forexample, a speaker or a receiver. The speaker may be used for generalpurposes, such as playing multimedia or playing record. The receiver maybe used for receiving incoming calls. According to an embodiment, thereceiver may be implemented as separate from, or as part of the speaker.

The display module 160 may visually provide information to the outside(e.g., a user) of the electronic device 101. The display module 160 mayinclude, for example, a display, a hologram device, or a projector andcontrol circuitry to control a corresponding one of the display,hologram device, and projector. According to an embodiment, the displaymodule 160 may include a touch sensor adapted to detect a touch, or apressure sensor adapted to measure the intensity of force incurred bythe touch.

The audio module 170 may convert a sound into an electrical signal andvice versa. According to an embodiment, the audio module 170 may obtainthe sound via the input module 150, or output the sound via the soundoutput module 155 or a headphone of an external electronic device (e.g.,an electronic device 102) directly (e.g., wiredly) or wirelessly coupledwith the electronic device 101.

The sensor module 176 may detect an operational state (e.g., power ortemperature) of the electronic device 101 or an environmental state(e.g., a state of a user) external to the electronic device 101, andthen generate an electrical signal or data value corresponding to thedetected state. According to an embodiment, the sensor module 176 mayinclude, for example, a gesture sensor, a gyro sensor, an atmosphericpressure sensor, a magnetic sensor, an acceleration sensor, a gripsensor, a proximity sensor, a color sensor, an infrared (IR) sensor, abiometric sensor, a temperature sensor, a humidity sensor, or anilluminance sensor.

The interface 177 may support one or more specified protocols to be usedfor the electronic device 101 to be coupled with the external electronicdevice (e.g., the electronic device 102) directly (e.g., wiredly) orwirelessly. According to an embodiment, the interface 177 may include,for example, a high definition multimedia interface (HDMI), a universalserial bus (USB) interface, a secure digital (SD) card interface, or anaudio interface.

A connecting terminal 178 may include a connector via which theelectronic device 101 may be physically connected with the externalelectronic device (e.g., the electronic device 102). According to anembodiment, the connecting terminal 178 may include, for example, anHDMI connector, a USB connector, an SD card connector, or an audioconnector (e.g., a headphone connector),

The haptic module 179 may convert an electrical signal into a mechanicalstimulus (e.g., a vibration or a movement) or electrical stimulus whichmay be recognized by a user via his tactile sensation or kinestheticsensation. According to an embodiment, the haptic module 179 mayinclude, for example, a motor, a piezoelectric element, or an electricstimulator.

The camera module 180 may capture a still image or moving images.According to an embodiment, the camera module 180 may include one ormore lenses, image sensors, image signal processors, or flashes.

The power management module 188 may manage power supplied to theelectronic device 101. According to one embodiment, the power managementmodule 188 may be implemented as at least part of, for example, a powermanagement integrated circuit (PMIC).

The battery 189 may supply power to at least one component of theelectronic device 101. According to an embodiment, the battery 189 mayinclude, for example, a primary cell which is not rechargeable, asecondary cell which is rechargeable, or a fuel cell.

The communication module 190 may support establishing a direct (e.g.,wired) communication channel or a wireless communication channel betweenthe electronic device 101 and the external electronic device (e.g., theelectronic device 102, the electronic device 104, or the server 108) andperforming communication via the established communication channel. Thecommunication module 190 may include one or more communicationprocessors that are operable independently from the processor 120 (e.g.,the AP) and supports a direct (e.g., wired) communication or a wirelesscommunication. According to an embodiment, the communication module 190may include a wireless communication module 192 (e.g., a cellularcommunication module, a short-range wireless communication module, or aglobal navigation satellite system (GNSS) communication module) or awired communication module 194 (e.g., a local area network (LAN)communication module or a power line communication (PLC) module). Acorresponding one of these communication modules may communicate withthe external electronic device via the first network 198 (e.g., ashort-range communication network, such as Bluetooth™, wireless-fidelity(Wi-Fi) direct, or IR data association (IrDA)) or the second network 199(e.g., a long-range communication network, such as a legacy cellularnetwork, a 5G network, a next-generation communication network, theInternet, or a computer network (e.g., LAN or wide area network (WAN)).These various types of communication modules may be implemented as asingle component (e.g., a single chip), or may be implemented as multicomponents (e.g., multi chips) separate from each other. The wirelesscommunication module 192 may identify and authenticate the electronicdevice 101 in a communication network, such as the first network 198 orthe second network 199, using subscriber information (e.g.,international mobile subscriber identity (IMSI)) stored in the SIM 196.

The wireless communication module 192 may support a 5G network, after a4G network, and next-generation communication technology, e.g., newradio (NR) access technology. The NR access technology may supportenhanced mobile broadband (eMBB), massive machine type communications(mMTC), or ultra-reliable and low-latency communications (URLLC). Thewireless communication module 192 may support a high-frequency band(e.g., the mmWave band) to achieve, e.g., a high data transmission rate.The wireless communication module 192 may support various technologiesfor securing performance on a high-frequency band, such as, e.g.,beamforming, massive multiple-input and multiple-output (MIMO), fulldimensional MIMO (FD-MIMO), array antenna, analog beam-forming, or largescale antenna. The wireless communication module 192 may support variousrequirements specified in the electronic device 101, an externalelectronic device (e.g., the electronic device 104), or a network system(e.g., the second network 199). According to an embodiment, the wirelesscommunication module 192 may support a peak data rate (e.g., 20 Gbps ormore) for implementing eMBB, loss coverage (e.g., 164 dB or less) forimplementing mMTC, or U-plane latency (e.g., 0.5 ms or less for each ofdownlink (DL) and uplink (UL), or a round trip of 1 ms or less) forimplementing URLLC.

The antenna module 197 may transmit or receive a signal or power to orfrom the outside (e.g., the external electronic device) of theelectronic device 101. According to an embodiment, the antenna module197 may include an antenna including a radiating element composed of aconductive material or a conductive pattern formed in or on a substrate(e.g., a printed circuit board (PCB)). According to an embodiment, theantenna module 197 may include a plurality of antennas (e.g., arrayantennas). In such a case, at least one antenna appropriate for acommunication scheme used in the communication network, such as thefirst network 198 or the second network 199, may be selected, forexample, by the communication module 190 (e.g., the wirelesscommunication module 192) from the plurality of antennas. The signal orthe power may then be transmitted or received between the communicationmodule 190 and the external electronic device via the selected at leastone antenna. According to an embodiment, another component (e.g., aradio frequency integrated circuit (RFIC)) other than the radiatingelement may be additionally formed as part of the antenna module 197.

According to various embodiments, the antenna module 197 may form ammWave antenna module. According to an embodiment, the mmWave antennamodule may include a printed circuit board, an RFIC disposed on a firstsurface (e.g., the bottom surface) of the printed circuit board, oradjacent to the first surface and capable of supporting a designatedhigh-frequency band (e.g., the mmWave band), and a plurality of antennas(e.g., array antennas) disposed on a second surface (e.g., the top or aside surface) of the printed circuit board, or adjacent to the secondsurface and capable of transmitting or receiving signals of thedesignated high-frequency band.

At least some of the above-described components may be coupled mutuallyand communicate signals (e.g., commands or data) therebetween via aninter-peripheral communication scheme (e.g., a bus, general purposeinput and output (GPIO), serial peripheral interface (SPI), or mobileindustry processor interface (MIPI)).

According to an embodiment, commands or data may be transmitted orreceived between the electronic device 101 and the external electronicdevice 104 via the server 108 coupled with the second network 199. Eachof the electronic devices 102 or 104 may be a device of a same type as,or a different type, from the electronic device 101. According to anembodiment, all or some of operations to be executed at the electronicdevice 101 may be executed at one or more of the external electronicdevices 102, 104, or 108. For example, if the electronic device 101should perform a function or a service automatically, or in response toa request from a user or another device, the electronic device 101,instead of, or in addition to, executing the function or the service,may request the one or more external electronic devices to perform atleast part of the function or the service. The one or more externalelectronic devices receiving the request may perform the at least partof the function or the service requested, or an additional function oran additional service related to the request, and transfer an outcome ofthe performing to the electronic device 101. The electronic device 101may provide the outcome, with or without further processing of theoutcome, as at least part of a reply to the request. To that end, acloud computing, distributed computing, mobile edge computing (MEC), orclient-server computing technology may be used, for example. Theelectronic device 101 may provide ultra low-latency services using,e.g., distributed computing or mobile edge computing. In anotherembodiment, the external electronic device 104 may include anInternet-of-things (IoT) device. The server 108 may be an intelligentserver using machine learning and/or a neural network. According to anembodiment, the external electronic device 104 or the server 108 may beincluded in the second network 199. The electronic device 101 may beapplied to intelligent services (e.g., smart home, smart city, smartcar, or healthcare) based on 5G communication technology or IoT-relatedtechnology.

The electronic device according to various embodiments may be one ofvarious types of electronic devices. The electronic devices may include,for example, a portable communication device (e.g., a smart phone), acomputer device, a portable multimedia device, a portable medicaldevice, a camera, a wearable device, or a home appliance. According toan embodiment of the disclosure, the electronic devices are not limitedto those described above.

It should be appreciated that various embodiments of the presentdisclosure and the terms used therein are not intended to limit thetechnological features set forth herein to particular embodiments andinclude various changes, equivalents, or replacements for acorresponding embodiment. With regard to the description of thedrawings, similar reference numerals may be used to refer to similar orrelated elements. It is to be understood that a singular form of a nouncorresponding to an item may include one or more of the things, unlessthe relevant context clearly indicates otherwise. As used herein, eachof such phrases as “A or B,” “at least one of A and B,” “at least one ofA or B,” “A, B, or C,” “at least one of A, B, and C,” and “at least oneof A, B, or C,” may include all possible combinations of the itemsenumerated together in a corresponding one of the phrases. As usedherein, such terms as “1st” and “2nd,” or “first” and “second” may beused to simply distinguish a corresponding component from another, anddoes not limit the components in other aspect (e.g., importance ororder). It is to be understood that if an element (e.g., a firstelement) is referred to, with or without the term “operatively” or“communicatively”, as “coupled with,” “coupled to,” “connected with,” or“connected to” another element (e.g., a second element), it means thatthe element may be coupled with the other element directly (e.g.,wiredly), wirelessly, or via a third element.

As used in connection with various embodiments of the disclosure, theterm “module” may include a unit implemented in hardware, software, orfirmware, and may interchangeably be used with other terms, for example,“logic,” “logic block,” “part,” or “circuitry”. A module may be a singleintegral component, or a minimum unit or part thereof, adapted toperform one or more functions. For example, according to an embodiment,the module may be implemented in a form of an application-specificintegrated circuit (ASIC).

Various embodiments as set forth herein may be implemented as software(e.g., the program 140) including one or more instructions that arestored in a storage medium (e.g., internal memory 136 or external memory138) that is readable by a machine (e.g., the electronic device 101).For example, a processor (e.g., the processor 120) of the machine (e.g.,the electronic device 101) may invoke at least one of the one or moreinstructions stored in the storage medium, and execute it, with orwithout using one or more other components under the control of theprocessor. This allows the machine to be operated to perform at leastone function according to the at least one instruction invoked. The oneor more instructions may include a code generated by a complier or acode executable by an interpreter. The machine-readable storage mediummay be provided in the form of a non-transitory storage medium. Wherein,the term “non-transitory” simply means that the storage medium is atangible device, and does not include a signal (e.g., an electromagneticwave), but this term does not differentiate between where data issemi-permanently stored in the storage medium and where the data istemporarily stored in the storage medium.

According to an embodiment, a method according to various embodiments ofthe disclosure may be included and provided in a computer programproduct. The computer program product may be traded as a product betweena seller and a buyer. The computer program product may be distributed inthe form of a machine-readable storage medium (e.g., compact disc readonly memory (CD-ROM)), or be distributed (e.g., downloaded or uploaded)online via an application store (e.g., Play Store™), or between two userdevices (e.g., smart phones) directly. If distributed online, at leastpart of the computer program product may be temporarily generated or atleast temporarily stored in the machine-readable storage medium, such asmemory of the manufacturer's server, a server of the application store,or a relay server.

According to various embodiments, each component (e.g., a module or aprogram) of the above-described components may include a single entityor multiple entities, and some of the multiple entities may beseparately disposed in different components. According to variousembodiments, one or more of the above-described components may beomitted, or one or more other components may be added. Alternatively oradditionally, a plurality of components (e.g., modules or programs) maybe integrated into a single component. In such a case, according tovarious embodiments, the integrated component may still perform one ormore functions of each of the plurality of components in the same orsimilar manner as they are performed by a corresponding one of theplurality of components before the integration. According to variousembodiments, operations performed by the module, the program, or anothercomponent may be carried out sequentially, in parallel, repeatedly, orheuristically, or one or more of the operations may be executed in adifferent order or omitted, or one or more other operations may beadded.

FIGS. 2A to 2C illustrate a foldable electronic device in a folded stateaccording to an embodiment. Specifically, FIG. 2A illustrates aperspective view, FIG. 2B illustrates a front view, and FIG. 2Cillustrates a rear view.

FIGS. 3A to 3C illustrate a foldable electronic device in a 180-degreeunfolded state according to an embodiment. Specifically, FIG. 3Aillustrates a perspective view, FIG. 3B illustrates a front view, andFIG. 3C illustrates a rear view.

Referring to FIGS. 2A to 3C, an electronic device 101 includes afoldable housing 210 (or a “housing”) including a first housing 211 anda second housing 212, a flexible display 220, a hinge assembly 300, anda cover 230 (or a “rear cover”). The cover 230 includes a first cover2301 included in the first housing 211 and a second cover 2302 includedin the second housing 212.

The first housing 211 and the second housing 212 may construct a spacein which electronic components (e.g., a PCB, a battery, a processor,etc.) of the electronic device 101 can be disposed, and may construct aside face of the electronic device 101. Various types of components forperforming various functions of the electronic device 101 may bedisposed inside the first housing 211 and the second housing 212. Forexample, a front camera, a receiver, a sensor (e.g., a proximitysensor), etc., may be disposed inside the first housing 211 and thesecond housing 212. Electronic components may also be exposed to a frontface of the electronic device 101 through at least one opening 220 d orrecess prepared on the flexible display 220.

The first housing 211 and the second housing 212 may be disposed inparallel to each other when the electronic device 101 is in an unfoldedstate. When the electronic device 101 is in the folded state, the firsthousing 211 may rotate (or turn) with respect to the second housing 212,so that one face of the first housing 211 faces one face of the secondhousing 212.

The first housing 211 and the second housing 212 may construct a recessfor accommodating the flexible display 220, and the flexible display 220may be supported by the first housing 211 and the second housing 212 bybeing mounted to the recess. Alternatively, the flexible display 220 maybe supported by a first support plate and/or second support platelocated between the flexible display 220 and first and second housings211 and 212, as will be described below with reference to FIG. 4A. Thefirst housing 211 and the second housing 212 may be constructed of ametal material and/or non-metal material having a specified rigidity tosupport the flexible display 220.

The flexible display 220 may be disposed on the first housing 211 andthe second housing 212 to construct a front face of the electronicdevice 101 when the electronic device 101 is in the unfolded state. Thatis, the flexible display 220 may be disposed by extending up to at leastone region of the second housing 212 across the hinge assembly 300 fromone region of the first housing 211. The flexible display 220 may bedisposed on the first housing 211 and the second housing 212 by beingmounted to the recess constructed by the first housing 211 and thesecond housing 212.

The flexible display 220 includes a first region 220 a corresponding toat least one region of the first housing 211, a second region 220 bcorresponding to at least one region of the second housing 212, and afolding region 220 c located between the first region 220 a and thesecond region 220 b and having a flexible characteristic. However, thedisclosure is not limited to the aforementioned embodiment, and thefirst region 220 a, second region 220 b, and folding region 220 c of theflexible display 220 may be constructed to have the flexiblecharacteristic. The first region 220 a, the folding region 220 c, andthe second region 220 b may be disposed in parallel to face the samedirection, when the electronic device 101 is in the unfolded state. Whenthe electronic device 101 is in the folded state, the folding region 220c may be bent such that the first region 220 a and the second region 220b are disposed to face each other.

At least one region (e.g., the first region 220 a, the second region 220b) of the flexible display 220 may be attached to one face of the firsthousing 211 and one face of the second housing 212. Alternatively, theflexible display 220 may be attached to one face of the first housing211 and one face of the second housing 212 through the support plates221 and 222 located between the flexible display 220 and the first andsecond housings 211 and 212.

The support plates 221 and 222 may include the first support plate 221attached to at least one region of the first housing 211 to support thefirst region 220 a of the flexible display 220 and the second supportplate 222 attached to at least one region of the second housing 212 tosupport the second region 220 b of the flexible display 220. The firstsupport plate 221 may be attached to at least one portion of the firstregion 220 a of the flexible display 220 to support the flexible display220. Similarly, the second support plate 222 may be attached to at leastone portion of the second region 220 b of the flexible display 220 tosupport the flexible display 220. The first support plate 221 and thesecond support plate 222 may be constructed of a material having arigidity to support the flexible display 220.

The hinge assembly 300 couples the first housing 211 and the secondhousing 212, and may rotate the second housing 212 about the firsthousing 211 within a specified rotation range, or on the contrary, mayrotate the first housing 211 about the second housing 212 within aspecified rotation range.

A recess 211 c may be constructed in a region where the first housing211 and the second housing 212 are coupled, so that the hinge assembly300 is disposed between the first housing 211 and the second housing212. The aforementioned recess 211 c may be constructed in a shape of agroove having a specific coverture, but is not limited thereto.

A hinge housing 300 c may be disposed between the first and secondhousings 211 and 212, and the hinge assembly 300 may be assembled to thehinge housing 300 c. The hinge housing 300 c may be visible to theoutside of the electronic device 101 according to a state of theelectronic device 101, or may be hidden by the foldable housing 210. Forexample, referring to FIG. 3C, when the electronic device 101 is in theunfolded state, the hinge housing 300 c is hidden by the folding housing210, and thus may be invisible to the outside of the electronic device101. As another example, e.g., as illustrated in FIGS. 2A to 2C, whenthe electronic device 101 is in the folded state, the hinge housing 300c may be visible to the outside of the electronic device 101 due to arotation of the first housing 211 and second housing 212.

The cover 230 may be located at a lower end of the first housing 211 andsecond housing 212 to construct a rear face of the electronic device101. The cover 230 may include the first cover 2301 coupled to the firsthousing 211 and the second cover 2302 coupled to the second housing 212.The first cover and the first housing 211 may be constructed integrally,and the second cover and the second housing 212 may also be constructedintegrally.

FIG. 4A illustrates an exploded view of an electronic device in anunfolded state according to an embodiment. FIG. 4B illustrates anexploded perspective view illustrating an inner structure of anelectronic device according to an embodiment.

Referring to FIGS. 4A and 4B, a foldable electronic device includes aflexible display 220, first and second housings 211 and 212, a hingeassembly 300, batteries B1 and B2, and at least one PCB 224.

A foldable housing 210 may include a first housing 211 and a secondhousing 212. The first and second housings 211 and 212 may be physicallycoupled by the hinge assembly 300 in a rotatable manner. The firsthousing 211 may include a first lateral member 211 a and a first cover2301 coupled to the first lateral member 211 a, and the second housing212 may include a second lateral member 212 a and a second cover 2302coupled to the second lateral member 212 a.

The first battery B1 is disposed to the first housing 211 and the secondbattery B2 is disposed to the second housing 212. The second battery B2may have a greater capacity than the first battery B1, and may beheavier than the first battery B1.

The PCB may include a main PCB and a sub PCB for electrically couplingat least one first electronic component disposed to the first housing211 and at least one second electronic component disposed to the secondhousing 212. For example, the sub PCB may be an FPCB disposed via thehinge housing 300 c.

The hinge assembly 300 includes hinge structures 300 a and 300 b. Thehinge structures 300 a and 300 b may be disposed to a hinge housing 300c. First and second hinge plates 300 d and 300 e may be disposedrespectively to the first and second housings 211 and 212. A cap ‘c’ maybe coupled to a support portion of the hinge structure. The hingestructures 300 a and 300 b may provide a rotation axis of the first andsecond housings 211 and 212, and may provide force for maintaining astate of the electronic device at a specific angle, e.g., 0, 45, 90, or180 degrees.

FIGS. 5A to 5C illustrate a process of opening/closing an electronicdevice according to an embodiment. Specifically, FIG. 5A illustrates aperspective view of a folded state, FIG. 5B illustrates a perspectiveview of an open state of approximately 90 degrees, and FIG. 5Cillustrates a perspective view of an open state of approximately 180degrees.

Referring to FIGS. 5A to 5C, a hinge assembly 300 included in anelectronic device 101 is in a folded (closed) state in FIG. 5A, a180-degree unfolded (open) state in FIG. 5C, and an approximately90-degree unfolded (open) state in FIG. 5B.

The hinge assembly 300 may provide force capable of maintaining a closedstate, a 180-degree open state, or an approximately 90-degree open stateby a cam operation in an opening/closing operation. For example, theoperation of the hinge assembly 300 may be provided by a mutual camoperation between hinge cams included in a hinge structure. Maintainingforce may be provided at various opening/closing degrees of theelectronic device 101 by changing a cam shape of the hinge cam.

FIG. 6 illustrates an exploded perspective view of a hinge structureaccording to an embodiment.

Referring to FIG. 6, a hinge structure 300 a or 300 b includes a bracketstructure 310, an arm structure 320, a rotation structure 330, a detentstructure 340, a support portion 350, a stopper 360, an elastic member361, and a screw 362. At least one of components of the hinge structure300 a or 300 b of FIG. 6 may be identical or similar to at least one ofcomponents of the hinge structure 300 a or 300 b of FIG. 4, andredundant descriptions will be omitted hereinafter.

The bracket structure 310 includes a first bracket 311, a second bracket312, and a fixing bracket 313.

The fixing bracket 313 may be disposed to a hinge housing to support thefirst bracket 311 and the second bracket 312. A first groove 313 a and asecond groove 313 b may be constructed in an upper face of the fixingbracket 313 (e.g., a face of the +y direction), and the first bracket311 and the second bracket 312 may be coupled to the fixing bracket 313through the first groove 313 a and the second groove 313 b. The firstgroove 313 a and the second groove 313 b may be constructed in an arcshape having a specific curvature, the first bracket 311 may be coupledto the first groove 313 a, and the second bracket 312 may be coupled tothe second groove 313 b. Although the first groove 313 a and the secondgroove 313 b are constructed in an arc shape having the same curvature,in FIG. 6, the first groove 313 a and the second groove 313 b may beconstructed in arc shapes having different curvatures. The first groove313 a may be constructed in one region (e.g., a region of the +xdirection) of the fixing bracket 313 adjacent to the first bracket 311,and the second groove 313 b may be constructed in another region of thefixing bracket 313 adjacent to the second bracket 312.

A plurality of gear holes 313 d and a plurality of shaft holes 313 e maybe constructed in one side face (e.g., a face of the +z direction) ofthe fixing bracket 313. First and second idle gears 333 and 334 may befastened to first and second shifts 331 and 332 on one side face of thefixing bracket 313 through the aforementioned gear hole 313 d and shafthole 313 e.

The first bracket 311 includes a first rail portion 311 a, a first slidehole 311 b, and a plurality of coupling holes 311 c. The first railportion 311 a may be constructed to protrude in one region of the firstbracket 311. The first rail portion 311 a may be constructed in a shapecorresponding to the first groove 313 a of the fixing bracket 313, andthe first bracket 311 may be coupled to the first groove 313 a of thefixing bracket 313 through the first rail portion 311 a. The first slidehole 311 b may be constructed in one region of the first bracket 311adjacent to a first arm 321, and the first bracket 311 and the first arm321 may be coupled through a first fixing portion 323 which passesthrough the first slide hole 311 b and the first arm 321. The firstfixing portion 323 may be slid inside the first slide hole 311 b as theelectronic device rotates from the folded state to the unfolded state orrotates from the unfolded state to the folded state.

The plurality of coupling holes 311 c may be constructed in one face(e.g., a face of the +y direction) facing a first housing of the firstbracket 311, and the first bracket 311 may be coupled to one region ofthe first housing through the plurality of coupling holes 311 c. Thefirst bracket 311 coupled to the first housing may be slid along thefirst groove 313 a of the fixing bracket 313 with the rotation of thefirst housing, and may rotate about a virtual first rotation axis L1.

The second bracket 312 includes a second rail portion 312 a, a secondslide hole 312 b, and a plurality of coupling holes 312 c. The secondrail portion 312 a may be constructed to protrude in one region of thesecond bracket 312. The second rail portion 312 a may be constructed ina shape corresponding to the second groove 313 b of the fixing bracket313, and the second bracket 312 may be coupled to the second groove 313b of the fixing bracket 313 through the second rail portion 312 a. Thesecond slide hole 312 b may be constructed in one region of the secondbracket 312 adjacent to a second arm 322, and the second bracket 312 andthe second arm 322 may be coupled through a second fixing portion 324which passes through the second slide hole 312 b and the second arm 322.The second fixing portion 324 may be slid inside the second slide hole312 b as the electronic device rotates from the folded state to theunfolded state or rotates from the unfolded state to the folded state.

The plurality of coupling holes 312 c may be constructed in one face(e.g., a face of the +y direction) facing a second housing of the secondbracket 312, and the second bracket 312 may be coupled to one region ofthe second housing through the plurality of coupling holes 312 c. Thesecond bracket 312 coupled to the second housing may be slid along thesecond groove 313 b of the fixing bracket 313 with the rotation of thesecond housing, and may rotate about a virtual second rotation axis L2.In this case, the virtual first rotation axis L1 and the virtual secondrotation axis L2 are parallel, and may be constructed in a flat faceparallel to the flexible display when the electronic device is in thefolded state.

The arm structure 320 includes the first arm 321 and the second arm 322.

The first arm 321 includes a first cam portion 321 a, a first supportrib 321 b, a first insertion hole 321 c, and a first through-hole 321 d.The first insertion hole 321 c may be constructed in one region of alower end (e.g., the −y direction) of the first arm 321, and the firstshaft 331 to be described below may be inserted to the first insertionhole 321 c to couple the first arm 321 and the first shaft 331. As thefirst arm 321 and the first shaft 331 are coupled, the first arm 321 mayrotate about a rotation axis of the first shaft 331.

The first cam portion 321 a may be constructed in a region adjacent tothe first insertion hole 321 c, and may be constructed to protrude in adirection of a detent plate 341 (e.g., the +z direction). The first camportion 321 a may be constructed in a concavo-convex shape in which aplurality of peaks and valleys are repeated, and the first cam portion321 a may be disposed to be engaged with a detent portion 341 aconstructed in the detent plate 341 to provide a cam operation to thefirst arm 321. In addition, since the first cam portion 321 a may bedisposed to be engaged with the detent portion 341 a constructed in thedetent plate 341, the first arm 321 may be fixed at a specified rotationangle and/or in a specified rotation angle range. As a result, amovement of the electronic device may be fixed at the specified rotationangle and/or in the specified rotation angle range (e.g., the range from30° to 150°).

The first support rib 321 b may be constructed to protrude from oneregion of the first arm 321, and may move the support portion 350 in anupper direction (e.g., the +y direction) when the electronic devicerotates from the folded state to the unfolded state. The firstthrough-hole 321 d may be constructed in one region (e.g., a region ofthe +x direction) in the opposite side of a region in which the firstinsertion hole 321 c of the first arm 321 is constructed. The firstfixing portion 323 passing through the first slide hole 311 b may passthrough the first through-hole 321 d to couple the first bracket 311 andthe first arm 321. A first washer ring 325 may be fastened to one end ofthe first fixing portion passing through the first through-hole 321 d,so that the first fixing portion 323 is fixed to the first arm 321.

Alternatively, the first washer ring 325 may be fastened to the otherend of the first fixing portion 323, so that the first fixing portion323 is fixed to the first bracket 311. In addition, a protrusion may beconstructed in one region of the first bracket 311 (or the first arm321), and a coupling groove corresponding to the protrusion may beconstructed in one region of the first arm 321 (or the first bracket311), so that the first bracket 311 and the first arm 321 are coupledwith the protrusion through the coupling groove. The first arm 321coupled with the first bracket 311 may rotate about a rotation axisdifferent from that of the first bracket 311 while sliding with respectto the first bracket 311, while the electronic device rotates from thefolded state to the unfolded state or rotates from the unfolded state tothe folded state.

The second arm 322 includes a second cam portion 322 a, a second supportrib 322 b, a second insertion hole 322 c, and a second through-hole 322d. The second insertion hole 322 c may be constructed in one region of alower end (e.g., the −y direction) of the second arm 322, and the secondshaft 332 to be described below may be inserted to the second insertionhole 322 c to couple the second arm 322 and the second shaft 332. As thesecond arm 322 and the second shaft 332 are coupled, the second arm 322may rotate about a rotation axis of the second shaft 332. The second camportion 322 a may be constructed in a region adjacent to the secondinsertion hole 322 c, and may be constructed to protrude in a directionof the detent plate 341 (e.g., the +z direction). Similarly to the firstcam portion 321 a, the second cam portion 322 a may be constructed in aconcavo-convex shape in which a plurality of peaks and valleys arerepeated, and the second cam portion 322 a may be disposed to be engagedwith a detent portion 341 b constructed in the detent plate 341 toprovide a cam operation to the second arm 322. In addition, since thesecond cam portion 322 a may be disposed to be engaged with the detentportion 341 b constructed in the detent plate 341, the second arm 322may be fixed at a specified rotation angle and/or in a specifiedrotation angle range. As a result, a movement of the electronic devicemay be fixed at the specified rotation angle and/or in the specifiedrotation angle range (e.g., the range from 30° to 150°).

The second support rib 322 b may be constructed to protrude from oneregion of the second arm 322, and may move the support portion 350 in anupper direction (e.g., the +y direction) when the electronic devicerotates from the folded state to the unfolded state. The secondthrough-hole 322 d may be constructed in a region in the opposite sideof the second insertion hole 322 c. The second fixing portion 324passing through the second slide hole 312 b may pass through the secondthrough-hole 322 d to couple the second bracket 312 and the second arm322. A second washer ring 326 may be fastened to one end of the secondfixing portion passing through the second through-hole 322 d, so thatthe second fixing portion 324 is fixed to the second arm 322.Alternatively, the second washer ring 326 may be fastened to the otherend of the second fixing portion 324, so that the second fixing portion324 is fixed to the second bracket 312. In addition, a protrusion may beconstructed in one region of the second bracket 312 (or the second arm322), and a coupling groove corresponding to the protrusion may beconstructed in one region of the second arm 322 (or the second bracket312), so that the second bracket 312 and the second arm 322 are coupledwith the protrusion through the coupling groove. The second arm 322coupled with the second bracket 312 may rotate about a rotation axisdifferent from that of the first bracket 312 while sliding with respectto the second bracket 312, while the electronic device rotates from thefolded state to the unfolded state or rotates from the unfolded state tothe folded state.

The rotation structure 330 includes the first shaft 331 coupled with afirst gear 331 a, the second shaft 332 coupled with a second gear 332 a,the first idle gear 333, the second idle gear 334, a shaft bracket 335,and a gear cover 336.

One end of the first shaft 331 may be fastened to the shaft hole 313 eof the fixing bracket 313, and the other end of the first shaft 331 maypass through a first shaft insertion hole 335 a of the shaft bracket335. The first arm 321 may be coupled to one region of the first shaft331, and the first arm 321 may rotate about the first shaft 331 as therotation axis.

The second shaft 332 may be disposed to a position adjacent to the firstshaft 331. One end of the second shaft 332 may be fastened to the shafthole 313 e of the fixing bracket 313, and the other end of the secondshaft 332 may pass through a second shaft insertion hole 335 b of theshaft bracket 335. The second arm 322 may be coupled to one region ofthe second shaft 332, and the second arm 322 may rotate about the secondshaft 332 as the rotation axis.

The first idle gear 333 and the second idle gear 334 may be disposedbetween the first gear 331 a coupled to the first shaft 331 and thesecond gear 332 a coupled to the second shaft 332. The first idle gear333 and the second idle gear 334 may be fastened to the plurality ofgear holes 313 d of the fixing bracket 313, and the first idle gear 333and the second idle gear 334 may rotate by being engaged with each otherso that the first arm 321 and the second arm 322 rotate by the samerotation angle. The first idle gear 333 may rotate by being engaged withthe first gear 331 a and the second idle gear 334, and the second idlegear 334 may rotate by being engaged with the first idle gear 333 andthe second gear 332 a.

As the first gear 331, second gear 332 a, first idle gear 333, andsecond idle gear 334 rotate by the same rotation angle by being engagedwith one another, the first shaft 331 and the second shaft 332 mayrotate by the same rotation angle in opposite directions. When the firstshaft 331 rotates by 30 counterclockwise (e.g., a direction from the +xaxis to the +y axis), the second shaft 332 may rotate by 30 clockwise.As the first shaft 331 and the second shaft 332 rotate by the samerotation angle, the first arm 321 and second arm 322 coupled to thefirst shaft 331 and second shaft 332 may rotate by the same rotationangle.

The shaft bracket 335 may include the first shaft insertion hole 335 ato which the first shaft 331 is inserted and the second shaft hole 335 bto which the second shaft 332 is inserted. The shaft bracket 335 may bedisposed inside a hinge housing to support the first shaft 331 andsecond shaft 332 inserted to the shaft bracket 335 through the firstshaft hole 335 a and the second shaft hole 335 b.

The gear cover 336 may be inserted to the first shaft 331 and the secondshaft 332 to protect the first gear 331 a, the second gear 332 a, thefirst idle gear 333, and the second idle gear 334. The gear cover 336may prevent the first gear 331 a, the second gear 332 a, the first idlegear 333, and the second idle gear 334 from being damaged by externalforce, and may prevent foreign material from entering the first gear 331a, the second gear 332 a, the first idle gear 333, and the second idlegear 334.

The detent structure 340 includes the detent plate 341, a first spring342, and a second spring 343.

A third shaft insertion hole 341 c to which the first shaft 331 isinserted may be constructed in one region of the detent plate 341, and afourth shaft insertion hole 341 d to which the second shaft 332 isinserted may be constructed in another region of the detent plate 341.The detent plate 341 may be coupled to the first shaft 331 and thesecond shaft 332 through the third shaft insertion hole 341 c and thefourth shaft insertion hole 341 d. The detent plate 341 includes thefirst detent portion 341 a constructed to protrude in a direction of thefirst cam portion 321 a of the first arm 321 and the second detentportion 341 b constructed to protrude in a direction of the second camportion 322 a of the second arm 322. The first detent portion 341 a andthe second detent portion 341 b may be constructed in a concavo-convexstructure in which at least one peak and valley appear repeatedly. Thefirst detent portion 341 a may be disposed to be engaged with the firstcam portion 321 a, and thus, when the electronic device is in the foldedstate or the unfolded state, may provide a cam operation to the firstarm 321 and fix a movement of the first arm 321 at a specified rotationangle. Similarly, the second detent portion 341 b may be disposed to beengaged with the second cam portion 322 a and thus, when the electronicdevice is in the folded state or the unfolded state, may provide a camoperation to the second arm 322 and fix a movement of the second arm ata specified rotation angle.

A pitch between a peak and another peak or between a valley and anothervalley of the first detent portion 341 a may be greater than a pitchbetween a peak and another peak or between a valley and another valleyof the first cam portion 321 a, so that the first arm 321 is rotatablewithin a specified rotation range even in a state in which the firstdetent portion 341 a and the first cam portion 321 a are engaged.However, a shape of the first detent portion 341 a is not limited to theaforementioned example. The pitch between the peaks or valleys of thefirst detent portion 341 a may be constructed to be identical to thepitch between the peaks or valleys of the first cam portion 321 a or thepitch between the peaks or valleys of the first cam portion 321 a may beconstructed to be greater than the pitch between the peaks or valleys ofthe first detent portion 341 a.

Similarly, a pitch between a peak and another peak or between a valleyand another valley of the second detent portion 341 b may be greaterthan a pitch between a peak and another peak or between a valley andanother valley of the second cam portion 322 a, so that the second arm322 is rotatable within a specified rotation range even in a state inwhich the second detent portion 341 b and the second cam portion 322 aare engaged. However, a shape of the second detent portion 341 b is notlimited to the aforementioned example. The pitch between the peaks orvalleys of the second detent portion 341 b may be constructed to beidentical to the pitch between the peaks or valleys of the second camportion 322 a or the pitch between the peaks or valleys of the secondcam portion 322 a may be constructed to be greater than the pitchbetween the peaks or between the valleys of the second detent portion341 b.

The first spring 342 may be disposed to surround one region of the firstshaft 331, and the second spring 343 may be disposed to surround oneregion of the second shaft 332. The first spring 342 and the secondspring 343 may be disposed in a state of being compressed between thedetent plate 341 and the shaft bracket 335, so that the detent plate 341is closely in contact in a direction of the first arm 321 and the secondarm 322. As the detent plate 341 is closely in contact in a direction ofthe first arm 321 and the second arm 322, it is possible to maintain astate in which the first detent portion 341 a and the first cam portion321 a are engaged and a state in which the second detent portion 341 band the second cam portion 322 a are engaged.

When the peak of the first detent portion 341 a and the peak of thefirst cam portion 321 a or the peak of the second detent portion 341 band the peak of the second cam portion 322 a are in contact due to arotation of the first arm 321 and the second arm 322, the detent plate341 may move in one direction of the first shaft 331 and second shaft332 (e.g., the +z direction), so that the first cam portion 321 a andthe first detent portion 341 a and/or the second cam portion 322 a andthe second detent portion 341 b are temporarily spaced apart. As thedetent plate 341 moves in one direction, the first spring 342 and thesecond spring 343 may be compressed. When the first arm 321 and thesecond arm 322 further rotate by a specific angle, the detent plate 341may move again in a direction of the first cam portion 321 a and/or thesecond cam portion 322 a due to elastic restoration force of the firstspring 342 and second spring 343. As a result, the first cam portion 321a and the first detent portion 341 a may be disposed in a state of beingengaged again with the second cam portion 322 a and the second detentportion 341 b, thereby maintaining a state in which the first camportion 321 a and the first detent portion 341 a are engaged and thesecond cam portion 322 a and the second detent portion 341 b areengaged.

A flat linear region may be constructed in at least one region (e.g., asummit region) of the peak of the first cam portion 321 a, the peak ofthe second cam portion 322 a, the peak of the first detent portion 341a, and/or the peak of the second detent portion 341 b. Similarly, a flatlinear region may also be constructed in at least one region of thevalley of the first cam portion 321 a, the valley of the second camportion 322 a, the valley of the first detent portion 341 a, and/or thevalley of the second detent portion 341 b. The linear region constructedin one region of the peak and the linear region constructed in oneregion of the valley may be constructed to be substantially identical orsimilar. As the linear region is constructed in the peaks and valleys ofthe first cam portion 321, second cam portion 322 a, first detentportion 341 a, and second detent portion 341 b, a movement of the firstarm 321 and/or second arm 322 may be fixed at a specified rotation angle(e.g., 30° or 60°) and/or in a specified rotation angle range (e.g., arotation angle range of 30° to 150°). As the movement of the first arm321 and/or second arm 322 is fixed at the specified rotation angle, amovement of a first housing and second housing of the electronic devicemay be fixed at the specified rotation angle.

The support portion 350 may be disposed to an empty space between thefirst and second arms 321 and 322 and the first and second shafts 321and 332. When the electronic device is in an unfolded state, the supportportion 350 may support one region of a flexible display not supportedby the first arm 321 and/or the second arm 322. The support portion 350may move in an upper direction (e.g., the +y direction) by using thefirst arm rib 321 b constructed in one region of the first arm 321 andthe second support rib 322 b constructed in one region of the second arm322. While the electronic device rotates from the folded state to theunfolded state, the first support rib 321 b and the second support rib322 b may be in contact with one region of the support portion 350, andthe support portion 350 may move in an upper direction (e.g., in adirection from the −y axis to the +y axis) by the first support rib 321b and the second support rib 322 b with the rotation of the first arm321 and the second arm 322.

The stopper 360 may be located at a lower end of the support portion 350(e.g., the −y direction). A fifth shaft insertion hole 360 a may beconstructed in one region of the stopper 360, and a sixth shaftinsertion hole 360 b may be constructed in one region in the oppositeside of the fifth shaft insertion hole 360 a. The first shaft 331 andthe second shaft 332 may be inserted through the fifth shaft insertionhole 360 a and the sixth shaft insertion hole 360 b, and the first shaft331, the second shaft 332, and the stopper 360 may be coupled throughthe aforementioned structure. A through-hole 360 c may be constructed inone region of an upper end of the stopper 360 (e.g., the +y direction),and an elastic support portion 3505 of the support portion 350 may beinserted in a lower direction of the stopper 360 by passing through thethrough-hole 360 c.

The screw 362 may be coupled with the elastic support portion 3505inserted to the lower end of the stopper 360, and the elastic member 361may be disposed between the screw 362 and the stopper 360. The elasticmember 361 may be a spring, but is not limited thereto. The elasticmember 361 may be in contact with one region of the stopper 360, and theelastic member 361 may be compressed while the support portion 350 movesin an upper direction while the electronic device rotates from thefolded state to the unfolded state. While the electronic device rotatesfrom the unfolded state to the folded state, the support portion 350 maymove in a lower direction (e.g., the −y direction) due to elasticrestoration force of the elastic member 361.

The hinge structure 300 a or 300 b further includes a first auxiliarymember 363 and a second auxiliary member 364. The first auxiliary member363 may be fastened to one end of the first shaft 331 adjacent to theshaft bracket 335, and the second auxiliary member 364 may be fastenedto one end of the second shaft 332 adjacent to the shaft bracket 335. Athird washer ring 331 b may be fastened to one end of the first shaft331, and thus the first shaft 331 may be fixed to the first auxiliarymember 363. Similarly, a fourth washer ring 332 b may be fastened to oneend of the second shaft 332, and thus the second shaft 332 may be fixedto the second auxiliary member 364. A screw nut may be fastened to oneend of the first shaft 331 so that the first shaft 331 is fixed to thefirst auxiliary member 363, or a screw nut may also be fastened to oneend of the second shaft 332 so that the second shaft 332 is fixed to thesecond auxiliary member 364.

The first auxiliary member 363 includes a third support rib 363 a, andthe third support rib 363 a may be constructed to protrude from oneregion of the first auxiliary member 363. The second auxiliary member364 includes a fourth support rib 364 a, and the fourth support rib 364a may be constructed to protrude from one region of the second auxiliarymember 364. The first auxiliary member 363 may rotate by the samerotation angle as the first arm 321 through the first shaft 331, and thesecond auxiliary member 364 may rotate by the same rotation angle as thesecond arm 322 through the second shaft 332. When the electronic devicerotates from the folded state to the unfolded state, the third supportrib 363 a and the fourth support rib 364 a may allow the support portion350 to move in an upper direction together with the first support rib321 b of the first arm 321 and the second support rib 322 b of thesecond arm 322.

FIG. 7A is a perspective view illustrating a support portion accordingto an embodiment, FIG. 7B is a plan view illustrating a support portionaccording to an embodiment, and FIG. 7C is a lateral view illustrating asupport portion according to an embodiment.

Referring to FIGS. 7A to 7C, a support portion 350 supports a flexibledisplay when the flexible display is unfolded, and may have anapproximately bar shape.

The support portion 350 supports a folding of the flexible display, andmay be disposed to face the folding region. The support portion 350 maysupport the folding region to be flat in a 180-degree unfolded (open)state, and may move in a direction away from the folding region in afolding operation (a closing operation).

The support portion 350 may be a bar type having a length and may bedisposed between both hinge structures 300 a and 300 b. The supportportion 350 includes a first face 350 a and a second face 350 b facingaway from the first face 350 a. The first face 350 a may be a facefacing the flexible display, and the second face 350 b may be a facefacing the hinge housing.

The support portion 350 is a connector which connects first and secondhinge structures, and both ends of the support portion 350 may berespectively coupled to the first and second structures.

The support portion 350 includes a center portion 3501, a fasteningportion 3502, a hook portion 3504, an elastic support portion 3505, andends 3506. In the support portion 350, the fastening portions 3502 maybe located respectively at both sides with respect to the center portion3501, the hook portions 3504 may be located respectively at both sidesof the fastening portion, the elastic support portions 3505 may belocated respectively at both sides of the hook portion 3504, and theends 3506 may be located respectively at opposite sides of the elasticsupport portion 3505.

The center portion 3501 may be located between first and second hingestructures, may be located between first and second hinge, or may belocated between an FPCB and a folding region of the flexible display.

In the center portion 3501, the first face 3501 a may face the foldingregion of the flexible display, and the second face 3501 b may face thehinge housing. The center portion 3501 may be disposed to a spacebetween the first and second hinge plates to support the flexibledisplay to be flat in a state in which the electronic device is in a180-degree unfolded state, as a support member that supports theflexible display.

The fastening portion 3502 may be a fastening hole to which a fasteneris inserted. The hook portion 3504 may have a hook shape protruding fromthe second face 350 b. The hook portion 3504 may be caught by somesupport structures of the hinge housing, so that the support portion 350is constrained not to be separated from the hinge housing. The elasticsupport portion 3505 may have a cylindrical shape as a portion in whichan elastic body is accommodated. The ends 3506 may have the narrowestwidths in the support portion 350. The center portion 3501 of thesupport portion 350 may be constructed to have a smaller width than thefastening portion 3502, the hook portion 3504, or the elastic supportportion 3505, and may be constructed to have a greater thickness.

The support portion 350 include a plurality of first support grooves3503 on the first face 350 a. The plurality of support groove 3503 maybe grooves for mounting first and second protrusion portions of firstand second hinge plates. The plurality of support grooves 3503 may beconstructed bilaterally symmetrically at both sides with respect to thecenter portion 3501, and may be constructed symmetrically at upper andlower sides. The support portion 350 may be constructed of a metalmaterial, e.g., a Stainless Use Steel (SUS) material or a metal powdermaterial.

FIG. 8A illustrates a hinge assembly fastened to an unfolded electronicdevice according to an embodiment. FIG. 8B is a plan view illustrating ahinge structure according to an embodiment.

Referring to FIGS. 8A and 8B, a hinge structure 300 a or 300 b includesa bracket structure 310, an arm structure 320, a rotation structure 330,a detent structure 340, and a support portion 350.

The bracket structure 310 includes a plurality of brackets 311 and 312coupled with a first housing and a second housing, and a fixing bracket313 that supports the plurality of brackets 311 and 312. The pluralityof brackets 311 and 312 coupled with the first housing and the secondhousing may rotate together with the first housing and the secondhousing while the electronic device rotates from a folded state to anunfolded state or rotates from the unfolded state to the folded state.

The arm structure 320 may include an arm coupled to some constitutions(e.g., a shaft) of the rotation structure 330 and rotatable within aspecified range (e.g., 0° to 90° or 10° to 80°). The arm may be coupledwith one region of a bracket of the bracket structure 310 and thus maybe slid with respect to the bracket in a rotation process of theelectronic device.

The rotation structure 330 includes a plurality of shafts 331 and 332, aplurality of gears 331 a and 332 a coupled with the plurality of shafts331 and 332, a plurality of idle gears 333 and 334 gear-coupled with theplurality of gears 331 a and 332 a, and a shaft bracket supporting theplurality of shafts. As the plurality of shafts 331 and 332, theplurality of gears 331 a and 332 a, and the plurality of idle gears 333and 334 rotate in an engaged manner, the rotation structure 330 mayallow the first housing and the second housing to rotate by the samerotation angle. Arms 321 and 322 of the arm structure 320 may be coupledto the shafts 331 and 332 of the rotation structure 330. Accordingly,the arm may rotate about a rotation axis (or a turning axis) differentfrom the brackets 311 and 312 of the bracket structure 310 while theelectronic device rotates from the folded state to the unfolded state orrotates from the unfolded state to the folded state.

The detent structure 340 includes a detent plate 341 having a detentportion constructed thereon, and a plurality of springs 342 and 343. Thedetent portion may be constructed to protrude from one region of thedetent plate 341 facing the aforementioned arm. The detent portion maybe constructed in a concavo-convex shape corresponding to a cam portionconstructed in one region of the arms 321 and 322. The detent portionmay be engaged with the cam portion of the arms 321 and 322 to fix amovement of the arm when the electronic device is in the folded state.The plurality of springs 342 and 343 may be disposed between the detentplate 341 and the shaft bracket of the rotation structure 330. Theplurality of springs 342 and 343 may be disposed between the detentplate 341 and the shaft bracket in a compressed state, so that thedetent plate 341 is in contact with one region of the arms 321 and 322.

The support portion 350 may be disposed to an empty space between theplurality of arms 321 and 322 and the plurality of shafts 331 and 332.The support portion 350 may move up and down between the flexibledisplay and the hinge housing due to a rotation of the plurality of arms321 and 322.

The support portion 350 may move in a direction of the flexible displaydue to the rotation of the plurality of arms while the electronic devicerotates from the folded state to the unfolded state. As a result, thesupport portion 350 may be located to a rear face of the flexibledisplay to support one region of the flexible display. The supportportion 350 may be in contact with at least one region of the rear faceof the flexible display to support the flexible display.

The support portion 350 may be spaced apart by a minute distance fromthe flexible display to support one region of the flexible display.

A support plate may be attached to at least one region of the flexibledisplay by means of an adhesive member (e.g., an adhesive). The supportportion 350 may support at least one region of the rear face of thesupport plate.

While the electronic device rotates from the unfolded state to thefolded state, the support portion 350 may be spaced apart from theflexible display, and thus may not affect a driving trajectory of theflexible display.

The support portion 350 may be disposed between the first and secondhinge structures 300 a and 300 b, and may provide a connection betweenthe first and second hinge structures 300 a and 300 b. One end of thesupport portion 350 may be disposed to the first hinge structure 300 a,the other end of the support portion 350 may be disposed to the secondhinge structure 300 b, and the center portion of the support portion 350may be located between the first and second hinge structures 300 a and300 b.

The support portion 350 may be disposed between the flexible display andat least one or more FPCBs 226 and 227. The ends of the support portion350 may be disposed between the flexible display and each of the firstand second hinge structures 300 a and 300 b, and the center portion maybe disposed between the flexible display and at least one or more FPCBs226 and 227. For example, the flexible display and the FPCB may bespatially separated from each other due to the center portion of thesupport portion 350.

The FPCBs 226 and 227 may include the main FPCB 226 and the sub FPCB227. The main FPCB 226 and the sub FPCB 227 may be disposed between thecenter portion 3501 of the support portion and the hinge housing. Thefolding region of the flexible display, the center portion of thesupport portion, and the FPCBs 226 and 227 may be disposed in a mutuallystacked structure. The FPCBs 226 and 227 may electrically couple atleast one electronic component disposed to the first housing and atleast one second electronic component disposed to the second housing.The first electronic component may be a main PCB, and the secondelectronic component may be a first battery.

In the opening/closing operation of the electronic device, the supportportion 350 may move downwardly toward the FPCBs 226 and 227, and thedownward movement of the support portion 350 may constrain the movementof the FPCBs 226 and 227. The support portion 250 may prevent the FPCBs226 and 227 from being detached by being unevenly wrinkled.

In the opening/closing operation of the electronic device, the centerportion of the support portion 350 facing the FPCBs 226 and 227 may havecurved (e.g., round) edge portions at both sides of a second face,thereby preventing the FPCBs 226 and 227 from being stamped due tointerference between the edge portion and the FPCB.

FIG. 9 illustrates a state in which a hinge structure and a hingehousing are separated according to an embodiment. FIG. 10A illustrates across-sectional view, cut along the line A-A′ of FIG. 9, of a hingestructure when an electronic device is in an unfolded state according toan embodiment. FIG. 10B illustrates a hinge structure when an electronicdevice rotates from an unfolded state to a folded state according to anembodiment. FIG. 10C illustrates a cross-sectional view, cut along theline A-A of FIG. 9′, of a hinge structure when an electronic device isin a folded state according to an embodiment.

Referring to FIGS. 9 to 10C, an electronic device includes the hingestructure 300 a. The hinge structure 300 a includes the first bracket311, the second bracket 312, a fixing bracket 313, the first arm 321,the second arm 322, a first fixing portion 323, a second fixing portion324, a support portion 350, a first shaft 331 in which a first gear 331a and a first spring 342 are coupled, a second shaft 332 in which asecond gear 332 a and a second spring 343 are coupled, a first idle gear333, a second idle gear 334, a shaft bracket 335, a first auxiliarymember 363, and a second auxiliary member 364. At least one ofcomponents of the aforementioned hinge structure 300 a may be identicalor similar to at least one of components of the hinge structure 300 a or300 b of FIG. 4B, the hinge structure 300 a or 300 b of FIG. 6, and/orthe hinge structure 300 a or 300 b of FIG. 7B, and redundantdescriptions will be omitted hereinafter.

The first bracket 311 and the second bracket 312 may be mounted to afirst groove 313 a and second groove 313 b constructed in the fixingbracket 313 so as to be supported by the fixing bracket 313. The firstbracket 311 may include a first rail portion 311 a constructed in ashape corresponding to the first groove 313 a, and the second bracket312 may include a second rail portion 312 a constructed in a shapecorresponding to the second groove 313 b. The first bracket 311 mayrotate by sliding inside the first groove 313 a through the first railportion 311 a, and the second bracket 312 may rotate by sliding insidethe second groove 313 b through the second rail portion 312 a.

The first bracket 311 may be coupled to at least one region of a firsthousing to rotate in association with the first housing. The secondbracket 312 may be coupled to at least one region of a second housing torotate in association with the second housing. Through theaforementioned structure, the first bracket 311 may rotate within aspecified range about a virtual first rotation axis L1, and the secondbracket 312 may rotate within a specified range about a virtual secondrotation axis L2 adjacent to the first rotation axis L1. The firstbracket 311 may rotate within an angle range from 0° to an angle (e.g.,90°) at which the electronic device is in the folded state with respectto the +x axis, and the second bracket 312 may rotate within an anglerange from 180° to an angle at which the electronic device is in thefolded state with respect to the +x axis. When the electronic device isin the unfolded state, the first bracket 311 and the second bracket 312may be disposed to be horizontal to each other, and when the electronicdevice is in the folded state, the first bracket 311 and the secondbracket 312 may be disposed to face each other.

The first arm 321 may be coupled to one region of the first shaft 331 torotate together with the first shaft 331. The second arm 322 may becoupled to one region of the second shaft 332 adjacent to the firstshaft 331 to rotate together with the second shaft 332. The first arm321 may rotate about a rotation axis L3 (hereinafter, a “third rotationaxis”) of the first shaft 331 due to the aforementioned couplingstructure. In addition, the second arm 322 may rotate about a rotationaxis L4 (hereinafter, a “fourth rotation axis”) of the second shaft 331.When the electronic device is in the unfolded state, the first arm 321and the second arm 322 may be disposed to be horizontal to each other,and when the electronic device is in the folded state, the first arm 321and the second arm 322 may be disposed to face each other.

The first arm 321 and the second arm 322 may rotate by the same anglethrough the first gear 331 a of the first shaft 331, the second gear 332a of the second shaft 332, the first idle gear 333, and the second idlegear 334.

When the first shaft 331 rotates by a specific angle, the first gear 331a may also rotate by the same angle. The rotation of the first gear 331a may be transferred to the first idle gear 333 engaged with the firstgear 331 a, and the rotation transferred to the first idle gear 333 maybe transferred to the second gear 332 a through the second idle gear 334engaged with the first idle gear 333. The second shaft 332 may alsorotate by a specific angle due to the rotation transferred to the secondgear 332 a. Through the aforementioned process, the first arm 321coupled with the first shaft 331 and the second arm 322 coupled with thesecond arm 332 may rotate by the same angle.

The first rotation axis L1 and the second rotation axis L2 may beconstructed between the third rotation axis L3 and the fourth rotationaxis L4. In addition, as the first rotation axis L1 and the secondrotation axis L2 are constructed in an upper end region of the thirdrotation axis L3 and fourth rotation axis L4, the first rotation axis L1and the second rotation axis L2 may be constructed on a flexibledisplay. That is, the first bracket 311, the second bracket 312, thefirst arm 321, and the second arm 322 may rotate within a specifiedangle range about rotation axes different from one another.

According to an embodiment, the first bracket 311 may be coupled withone region of the first arm 321 through the first fixing portion 323,and the second bracket 312 may be coupled with one region of the secondarm 322 through the second fixing portion 324.

A first slide hole 311 b may be constructed in one region adjacent tothe first arm 321 of the first bracket 311, and the first fixing portion323 may pass through the first slide hole 311 b to couple the firstbracket 311 and the first arm 321. A second slide hole 312 b may beconstructed in one region adjacent to the second arm 322 of the secondbracket 312, and the second fixing portion 324 may pass through thesecond slide hole 312 b to couple the second bracket 312 and the secondarm 322.

As the first bracket 311 rotates together with the first housing, thefirst fixing portion 323 may be slid inside the first slide hole 311 b.Due to the sliding of the first fixing portion 323, the first arm 321coupled with the first bracket 311 through the first fixing portion 323may also be slid together. Similarly, due to the rotation of the secondhousing, the second fixing portion 324 may be slid inside the secondslide hole 312 b. Due to the sliding of the second fixing portion 324,the second arm 322 coupled with the second bracket 312 through thesecond fixing portion 324 may also be slid together.

When the electronic device in which the first bracket 311, the secondbracket 312, the first arm 321, and the second arm 322 are disposed onthe same plane is in the unfolded state, the first fixing portion 323may be disposed outside the first slide hole 311 b, and the secondfixing portion 324 may be disposed outside the second slide hole 312 b.

As illustrated in FIG. 10B, while the electronic device rotates from theunfolded state to the folded state, the first housing and the secondhousing may rotate by a first angle (e.g., 30° with respect to the +xaxis or the −x axis) by a user's manipulation or external force. As thefirst housing and the second housing rotate, the first bracket 311 andthe second bracket 312 coupled to the first housing and the secondhousing may also rotate by the first angle.

While the first bracket 311 rotates counterclockwise, the first fixingportion 323 may be slid by a specific distance in an inward directionfrom the outside of the first slide hole 311 b. The first arm 321 mayrotate counterclockwise by a second angle greater than the first angledue to the sliding of the first fixing portion 323. The second arm 322may rotate by the second angle clockwise due to the sliding of thesecond fixing portion 324.

When the electronic device is in the folded state, the first and secondbrackets 311 and 312 and the first and second arms 321 and 322 may bedisposed to face each other in one face. The first bracket 311, thesecond bracket 312, the first arm 321, and the second arm 322 may bedisposed to be substantially vertical to the +x axis or to have an angle(e.g., 80° to 100°) at which the electronic device is in the foldedstate. When the electronic device is in the folded state, the firstfixing portion 323 may be disposed inside the first slide hole 311 b,and the second fixing portion 324 may also be disposed inside the secondslide hole 312 b.

That is, the first fixing portion 323 may be slid in an inward directionfrom the outside of the first slide hole 311 b while the electronicdevice rotates from the unfolded state to the folded state, and may beslid in an outward direction from the inside of the first slide hole 311b while the electronic device rotates from the folded state to theunfolded state. The second fixing portion 324 may be slid in the samemanner as the first fixing portion 323.

In an example, while the first bracket 311 and the second bracket 312rotate about the virtual first rotation axis L1 and second rotation axisL2 by a user's manipulation or external force, the first fixing portion323 and the second fixing portion 324 may be slid respectively insidethe first slide hole 311 b and the second slide hole 312 b. Due to thesliding of the first fixing portion 323 and second fixing portion 324,the first arm 321 and the second arm 322 may rotate about the thirdrotation axis L3 and the fourth rotation axis L4. As a result, the firstarm 321 may rotate about a rotation axis (e.g., L3) different from thefirst bracket 311 due to the rotation of the first bracket 311. Thesecond arm 322 may rotate about a rotation axis (e.g., L4) differentfrom the second bracket 312 due to the rotation of the second bracket312.

When the electronic device is in a 180-degree unfolded state, thesupport portion 350 may be in contact with an auxiliary member.

When the electronic device rotates from the 180-degree unfolded state toa folded state, the auxiliary members 363 and 364 may perform a rotationoperation, and the state in which the support portion 350 is in contactwith the auxiliary members 363 and 364 may be released (operation{circle around (1)}).

According to restoration force of the elastic member 361, the supportportion 350 may move to a lower end through a push operation (operations{circle around (2)} and {circle around (3)}). The support portion 350may move until it is in contact with a shaft bracket, and then themovement may be completed when in contact with the auxiliary members 363and 364 (operation {circle around (4)}), i.e., when a closing operationof the electronic device is completed.

FIG. 11 illustrates a fixing portion and a detent structure of a hingestructure according to an embodiment.

Referring to FIG. 11, the hinge structure of an electronic deviceincludes the first bracket, the second bracket, a fixing bracket, thefirst arm, the second arm, the first fixing portion, the second fixingportion, a first shaft 331 to which a first gear 331 a is coupled, asecond shaft 332 to which a second gear 332 a is coupled, a first idlegear, a second idle gear, the detent structure 340, a support portion, afirst auxiliary member 363, and a second auxiliary member 364. At leastone of components of the hinge structure of FIG. 11 may be identical orsimilar to at least one of components of the hinge structures of FIG. 8,and redundant descriptions will be omitted hereinafter.

The first bracket 311 and the first arm 321 may be coupled through thefirst fixing portion 323 which passes through one region of the firstbracket 311 and first arm 321. The second bracket 312 and the second arm322 may be coupled through the second fixing portion 324 which passesthrough one region of the second bracket 312 and second arm 322. Thefirst fixing portion 323 and the second fixing portion 324 may beconstructed in a pin shape which extends in a longitudinal direction.

The hinge structure further includes a first elastic body and a secondelastic body. In an embodiment, the first elastic body and the secondelastic body may be a spring or a disk spring, but are not limitedthereto.

The first elastic body may be disposed to an outer circumferentialsurface of the first fixing portion, and may be disposed in a compressedstate between the first arm 321 and a first washer ring. Some regions ofthe first elastic body 323 a may pass through some regions of the firstarm 321, and may be disposed between the first arm 321 and the firstwasher ring 325. As the first elastic body 323 a is disposed in acompressed state between the first arm 321 and the first washer ring325, frictional force may be generated between the first arm 321 and thefirst bracket 311. A torque may be generated in a direction opposite toa rotation direction of the first arm 321 due to the frictional forcegenerated between the first arm 321 and the first bracket 311, and amovement of the first arm 321 may be fixed due to the generated torque.That is, the hinge structure may fix the movement of the first arm 321in a free stop manner while the electronic device rotates from thefolded state to the unfolded state or rotates from the unfolded state tothe folded state without a separate additional component by using thefirst elastic body 323 a.

The second elastic body 324 a may be disposed to an outercircumferential surface of the second fixing portion 324, and may bedisposed in a compressed state between the second arm 322 and a secondwasher ring. Some regions of the second elastic body 324 a may passthrough some regions of the second arm 322, and may be disposed betweenthe second arm 322 and the second washer ring 326. As the second elasticbody 324 a is disposed in a compressed state between the second arm 322and the second washer ring 326, frictional force may be generatedbetween the second arm 322 and the second bracket 312. A torque may begenerated in a direction opposite to a rotation direction of the secondarm 322 due to the frictional force generated between the second arm 322and the second bracket 312, and the movement of the second arm 322 maybe fixed due to the generated torque. That is, the hinge structure 300 aaccording to an embodiment may fix a movement of the second arm 322while the electronic device rotates from the folded state to theunfolded state or rotates from the unfolded state to the folded statewithout a separate additional component by using the second elastic body324 a.

The detent structure 340 of the hinge structure 3 includes the detentplate 341, a first spring 342, and a second spring 343.

A shaft insertion hole may be constructed in at least one region of thedetent plate 341, so that the first shaft 331 and the second shaft 332are coupled to the detent plate 341. A diameter of the shaft insertionhole may be constructed to be greater than a diameter of the secondshaft 332, so that the first shaft 331 and the second shaft 332 canfreely rotate in a state of being coupled with the detent plate 341. Thedetent plate 341 includes a first detent portion 341 a constructed toprotrude along a longitudinal direction of the first shaft 331 and asecond detent portion 341 b constructed to protrude along a longitudinaldirection of the second shaft 332. The first detent portion 341 a may bedisposed to be engaged with a first cam portion 321 a of the first arm321, and the second detent portion 341 b may be disposed to be engagedwith a second cam portion 322 a of the second arm 322, so that the firstarm 321 and the second arm 322 can provide a cam operation to the firstarm 321 and the second arm 322.

The first spring 342 may be coupled with the first shaft 331 so as to belocated between the detent plate 341 and a shaft bracket 335 supportingthe first shaft 331. The second spring 343 may be coupled with thesecond shaft 332 adjacent to the first shaft 331, so as to be locatedbetween the detent plate 341 and the shaft bracket 335 supporting thesecond shaft 332.

The first spring 342 and the second spring 343 may be disposed in acompressed state to the shaft bracket 335 and the detent plate 341, andpressure may be applied to the shaft bracket 335 in a direction oppositeto the detent plate 341 due to elastic restoration force of the firstspring 342 and second spring 343. Due to the elastic restoration forceof the first spring 342 and second spring 343, the first detent portion341 a and second detent portion 341 b of the detent plate 341 maymaintain a state of being engaged with the first cam portion 321 a ofthe first arm 321 and the second cam portion 322 a of the second arm322. With the rotation of the first arm 321 and second arm 322, thedetent plate 341 may be temporarily spaced apart in a direction of theshaft bracket 335. The first spring 342 and the second spring 343 may becompressed due to the detent plate 341 being spaced apart. Due toelastic restoration force of the compressed first spring 342 and secondspring 343, the detent plate 341 may move again in a direction of thefirst arm 321 and the second arm 322.

Even if the detent plate 341 is temporarily spaced apart from the firstarm 321 and the second arm 322, the detent plate 341 may be in contactagain with the first arm 321 and the second arm 322 by means of thefirst spring 342 and the second spring 343. The detent structure 340 maymaintain an engagement state between the first detent portion 341 a andthe first cam portion 321 a and between the second detent portion 341 band the second cam portion 322 a through the aforementioned structure.

FIGS. 12A and 12B illustrate a coupling relationship between an armstructure and a detent structure of a hinge structure according to anembodiment. Specifically, FIG. 12A illustrates a detached state, andFIG. 12B illustrates an assembled state.

Referring to FIGS. 12A and 12B, a hinge structure of an electronicdevice includes the first arm 321, the second arm 322, and the detentplate 341. The first arm 321 includes a first cam portion 321 a and afirst support rib 321 b, and the second arm 322 includes a second camportion 322 a and a second support rib 322 b. The first support rib 321b of the first arm 321 and the second support rib 322 b of the secondarm 322 may allow a support portion to move in an upper direction.

The first cam portion 321 a of the first arm 321 and the second camportion 322 a of the second arm 322 may be constructed in aconcavo-convex structure in which a peak A and a valley B appearrepeatedly. The first arm 321 and the second arm 322 may be coupled withthe detent plate 341, and thus may be disposed such that the first camportion 321 a is engaged with a first detent portion 341 a, and thesecond cam portion 322 a is engaged with a second detent portion 341 b.

The detent plate 341 includes the first detent portion 341 a constructedto protrude in a direction of the first cam portion 321 a of the firstarm 321 and the second detent portion 341 b constructed to protrude in adirection of the second cam portion 322 a of the second arm 322. Thefirst detent portion 341 a and the second detent portion 341 b may beconstructed in a concavo-convex structure in which a peak ‘a’ and avalley ‘b’ appear repeatedly. The peak and valley of the first detentportion 341 a may be constructed in a shape corresponding to the peakand valley of the first cam portion 321 a, and the peak and valley ofthe second detent portion 341 b may be constructed in a shapecorresponding to the peak and valley of the second cam portion 322 a.The peak ‘a’ of the first detent portion 341 a and the valley B of thefirst cam portion 321 a may be disposed to correspond to each other, andthe valley ‘b’ of the first detent portion 341 a and the peak A of thefirst cam portion 321 a may be disposed to correspond to each other, sothat the first detent portion 341 a and the first cam portion 321 a areengaged with each other. Similarly, the peak of the second detentportion 341 b and the valley of the second cam portion 322 a may bedisposed to correspond to each other, and the valley of the seconddetent portion 341 b and the peak of the second cam portion 322 a may bedisposed to correspond to each other, so that the second detent portion341 b and the second cam portion 322 a are engaged with each other.

As the detent plate 341 is disposed such that the first cam portion 321a and the first detent portion 341 a are engaged and the second camportion 322 a and the second detent portion 341 b are engaged, thedetent plate 341 may provide a cam operation to the first arm 321 andthe second arm 322. A pitch between a peak (or valley) and peak (orvalley) of the first detent portion 341 a may be constructed to belonger than a pitch between a peak (or valley) and peak (or valley) ofthe first cam portion 321 a, so that the first cam portion 321 a rotateswithin a specified angle range even if it is in a state of being engagedwith the first detent portion 341 a. The pitch between the peak (orvalley) or peak (or valley) of the first detent portion 341 a may beconstructed to be equal to the pitch between the peak (or valley) andpeak (or valley) of the first cam portion 321 a or may be constructed tobe shorter than the pitch between the peak (or valley) and peak (orvalley) of the first cam portion 321 a. While the electronic devicerotates from a folded state to an unfolded state or rotates from theunfolded state to the folded state, the peak of the first cam portion321 a of the first arm 321 may be engaged with the peak of the firstdetent portion 341 a so that the first arm 321 and the detent plate 341are temporarily spaced apart. While the peak of the first cam portion321 a is beyond the peak of the first detent portion 341 a, the firstdetent portion 341 a may provide a cam operation to the first arm 321.The second detent portion 341 b may also provide a cam operation to thesecond arm 322 in the same or similar manner as the first detent portion341 a.

The first detent portion 341 a and the second detent portion 341 b mayprovide the cam operation to the first arm 321 and the second arm 322and also fix a movement of the first arm 321 and second arm 322.

A flat linear region may be constructed in at least one region (e.g., asummit region) of the peak of the first cam portion 321 a, the peak ofthe second cam portion 322 a, the peak of the first detent portion 341a, and/or the peak of the second detent portion 341 b. A flat linearregion may also be constructed in at least one region of the valley ofthe first cam portion 321 a, the valley of the second cam portion 322 a,the valley of the first detent portion 341 a, and/or the valley of thesecond detent portion 341 b. The linear region constructed in one regionof the peak and the linear region constructed in one region of thevalley may be constructed to be substantially identical or similar. Asthe linear region is constructed in the peaks and valleys of the firstcam portion 321, second cam portion 322 a, first detent portion 341 a,and second detent portion 341 b, the movement of the first arm 321and/or second arm 322 may be fixed at a specified rotation angle (e.g.,30° or 60°). As the movement of the first arm 321 and/or second arm 322is fixed at the specified rotation angle, a movement of a first housingand second housing of the electronic device may be fixed at thespecified rotation angle.

FIG. 13 illustrates a hinge structure according to an embodiment.

Referring to FIG. 13, the hinge structure 300 a of an electronic deviceincludes a first bracket 311, a second bracket 312, a first arm 321, asecond arm 322, a first fixing portion 323, a second fixing portion 324,a first shaft 331 to which a first gear 331 a is coupled, a second shaft332 to which a second gear 332 a is coupled, a first idle gear 333, asecond idle gear 334, a shaft bracket 335, a first spring 342, a secondspring 343, a stopper 360, a first auxiliary member 363, and a secondauxiliary member 364. At least one of components of the hinge structure300 a of FIG. 13 may be identical or similar to at least one ofcomponents of the hinge structure 300 a or 300 b of FIG. 6, andredundant descriptions will be omitted hereinafter.

The first arm 321 includes a first support rib 321 b, and the second arm322 includes a second support rib 322 b. The first support rib 321 b maybe constructed to protrude from one region of the first arm 321. Inaddition, the second support rib 322 b may be constructed to protrudefrom one region of the second arm 322. When the electronic device is inan unfolded state, the first support rib 321 b may be constructed toprotrude in a direction of the stopper 360 located between the first arm321 and the second arm 322 from the first arm 321. Similarly, the secondsupport rib 322 b may be constructed to protrude in a direction of thestopper 360 from the second arm 322.

The first support rib 321 b may be constructed integrally with the firstarm 321, and may rotate along with a rotation of the first arm 321. Thesecond support rib 322 b may be constructed integrally with the secondarm 322, and may rotate along with a rotation of the second arm 322. Asthe first support rib 321 b and the second support rib 322 b rotatetogether with the first arm 321 and the second arm 322, a supportportion disposed on the stopper 360 may move in an upper direction(e.g., the +y direction). While the electronic device rotates from thefolded state to the unfolded state, at least one region of the firstsupport rib 321 b and second support rib 322 b may be in contact withone region of the support portion (e.g., a rear face of the supportportion).

As the first arm 321 rotates clockwise (e.g., the direction {circlearound (1)}), the first support rib 312 b may move the support portion350 in an upper direction. As the second arm 322 rotatescounterclockwise (e.g., the direction {circle around (2)}), the secondsupport rib 322 b may move the support portion 350 in an upperdirection.

The first auxiliary member 363 may be coupled to one end of the firstshaft 331 adjacent to the first arm 321, and the second auxiliary member364 may be coupled to one end of the second shaft 332 of the second arm322. The first auxiliary member 363 may be coupled to the first shaft331 to rotate together with the first shaft 331. The second auxiliarymember 364 may be coupled to the second shaft 332 to rotate togetherwith the second shaft 332.

The first auxiliary member 363 includes a third support rib 363 aconstructed to protrude from one region of the first auxiliary member363. The second auxiliary member 364 includes a fourth support rib 364 aconstructed to protrude from one region of the second auxiliary member364. The third support rib 363 a may be disposed at a position parallelto the first support rib 321 b of the first arm 321, and the fourthsupport rib 364 a may be disposed at a position parallel to the secondsupport rib 322 b of the second arm 322. The third support rib 363 a maybe spaced apart from the first support rib 321 b to rotate by the samerotation angle as the first support rib 321 b with the rotation of thefirst shaft 331. The fourth support rib 364 a may be spaced apart fromthe second support rib 322 b to rotate by the same rotation angle as thesecond support rib 322 b with the rotation of the second shaft 332.

The third support rib 363 a and the fourth support rib 364 a may movethe support portion 350 in an upper direction while the electronicdevice rotates from the folded state to the unfolded state, similarly tothe first support rib 321 b and the second support rib 322 b. The thirdsupport rib 363 a and the fourth support rib 364 a may be in contactwith one region of the support portion 350 while the electronic devicerotates from the folded state to the unfolded state. As the first shaft331 rotates clockwise (e.g., the direction {circle around (1)}), thethird support rib 363 a may move the support portion 350 in an upperdirection. As the second shaft 332 rotates counterclockwise (e.g., thedirection {circle around (2)}), the fourth support rib 364 a may movethe support portion 350 in an upper direction.

Accordingly, the hinge structure 300 a may move the support portion 350in an upper direction while the electronic device rotates from thefolded state to the unfolded state through the first support rib 321 b,the second support rib 322 b, the third support rib 363 a, and thefourth support rib 364 a. Consequently, the support portion 350 can bein contact with a rear face of a flexible display, thereby preventingthe flexible display from being sagged and/or damaged when theelectronic device is in the unfolded state.

FIG. 14A illustrates a compressed state of an elastic member and firstand second arms of a hinge structure when an electronic device is anunfolded state according to an embodiment. FIG. 14B illustrates anelongated state of an elastic member and first and second arms of ahinge structure when an electronic device is in a folded state accordingto an embodiment.

Referring to FIGS. 14A and 14B, an electronic device includes a flexibledisplay 220, a first support plate 221 supporting the flexible display220, a second support plate 222, and the hinge structure 300 a.

The hinge structure 300 a includes a first bracket 311, a second bracket312, a first arm 321, a second arm 322, a support portion 350, a stopper360, an elastic member 361, and a screw 362.

The support portion 350 may move in a direction of a rear face of theflexible display 220 by using a first support rib 321 b of the first arm321 and a second support rib 322 b of the second arm 322, when theelectronic device rotates from the folded state to the unfolded state.Through the aforementioned process, the support portion 350 may supportone region of the flexible display 220 that is not supported by thefirst arm 321 and the second arm 322, when the electronic device is inthe unfolded state.

When the electronic device is in the unfolded state, a gap ‘g’ may beconstructed between the support portion 350 and the first support rib321 b of the first arm 321 and the second support rib 322 b of thesecond arm 322. When the electronic device is in the unfolded state, asthe gap is constructed between the support portion 350 and the firstsupport rib 321 b and the second support rib 322 b, the support portion350 can be prevented from moving in a direction of the flexible display220 by at least a specified distance. When the electronic device is inthe unfolded state, the gap between the support portion 350 and thefirst support rib 32 b and the second support rib 322 b may beconstructed to be greater than a gap between a protrusion region E1 of ashaft bracket 355 or a protrusion region E2 of the stopper 360 and afixing rib constructed in one region of the support portion 350. As aresult, the support portion 350 can be prevented from moving in aduplicate manner in an upper direction by the first support rib 321 band the second support rib 322 b. That is, when the electronic device isin the unfolded state, the hinge structure 300 a can prevent theflexible display 220 from being damaged by the support portion 350through the gap constructed between the support portion 350 and thefirst support rib 321 b and the second support rib 322 b.

The stopper 360 may be located at a lower end (e.g., the −y direction)of the support portion 350, and a through-hole 360 c may be constructedin one region of the stopper 360. An elastic support portion 3505 of thesupport portion 350 may be located at a lower end of the stopper 360 bypassing through the through-hole 360 c, and the screw 362 may be coupledto the elastic support portion 3505 of the support portion 350 passingthrough the through-hole 360 c. An outer circumferential surface of oneface of the screw 362 facing the elastic support portion 3505 may beconstructed to be greater than an outer circumferential surface of theelastic support portion 3505, so that the elastic member 361 is disposedbetween the stopper 360 and the screw 362. The elastic member 361 may bea spring for example, but is not limited thereto.

One end of the elastic member 361 may be in contact with one region ofthe stopper 360 (e.g., a neighboring region of the through-hole 360 c),and the other end may be in contact with the screw 362 coupled to theprotrusion region of the support portion 350. The elastic member 361 maybe compressed when the support portion 350 moves in an upper direction(e.g., the +y direction), or may be restored to its original state dueto elastic restoration force.

As the electronic device rotates from the folded state to the unfoldedstate, the support portion 350 moves in a direction of the flexibledisplay 220. The screw 362 coupled to the elastic support portion 3505may also move in an upper direction (e.g., the +y direction) due to themovement of the support portion 350, and the elastic member 361 may becompressed due to the upward movement of the screw 362.

As the electronic device rotates from the unfolded state to the foldedstate, the first arm 321 may rotate counterclockwise (e.g., thedirection {circle around (2)}), and the second arm 322 may rotateclockwise (e.g., the direction {circle around (1)}), so that the firstsupport rib 321 b and the second support rib 322 b are spaced apart fromthe support portion 350. As the first support rib 321 b and secondsupport rib 322 b are spaced apart from the support portion 350,pressure may be applied to the screw 362 in a lower direction (e.g., the−y direction) due to elastic restoration force of the compressed elasticmember 361. Due to the pressure applied to the screw 362, the screw 362and the support portion 350 coupled with the screw 362 may move in alower direction (e.g., the −y direction). That is, while the electronicdevice rotates from the unfolded state to the folded state, the supportportion 350 may be spaced apart from the flexible display 220 due to theelastic restoration force of the elastic member 361 located between thestopper 360 and the screw 362.

Through the aforementioned driving process, the support portion 350 maynot interrupt a rotation trajectory (or a “driving trajectory”) of theflexible display 220 or the first support plate 221 and the secondsupport plate 222 while the electronic device rotates from the unfoldedstate to the folded state. However, when the electronic device is in theunfolded state, the support portion 350 may support one region of theflexible display 220 that is not supported by the first arm 321 and thesecond arm 322, thereby preventing the flexible display 220 from beingdamaged or sagged.

FIG. 15A illustrates a cross-sectional view, cut along the line B-B′ ofFIG. 10A, of a hinge structure when an electronic device is in a180-degree unfolded state according to an embodiment. FIG. 15Billustrates a cross-section of a hinge assembly when an electronicdevice is an unfolded state according to an embodiment. FIG. 15Cillustrates a cross-sectional view, cut along the line B-B′ of FIG. 10C,of a hinge structure when an electronic device is in a folded stateaccording to an embodiment. FIG. 15D illustrates a cross-section of ahinge structure while an electronic device is folded according to anembodiment.

Referring to FIGS. 15A to 15D, a hinge structure 300 b of an electronicdevice includes a second bracket 312, a fixing bracket 313, a second arm322, a second fixing portion 324 coupling the second bracket 312 and thesecond arm 322, a rotation structure 330 including a second shaft 332, asecond idle gear 334, and a shaft bracket 335, a support portion 350, astopper 360, an elastic member 361, and a screw 362. At least one ofcomponents of the hinge structure 300 b of FIG. 15A may be identical orsimilar to at least one of components of the hinge structure 300 a or300 b of FIG. 6, and redundant descriptions will be omitted hereinafter.

The support portion 350 may be located on the stopper 360, and mayinclude an elastic support portion 3505 and a fixing rib 3504. Theelastic support portion 3505 may be constructed to protrude in a lowerdirection (e.g., the −y direction) of the support portion 350, and maybe coupled with the screw 362 as described above to compress the elasticmember 361 while the electronic device rotates from the folded state tothe unfolded state. The fixing rib 3504 may be constructed to protrudein a lower direction of the elastic support portion 3505 similarly tothe elastic support portion 3505, and in a lateral view, may beconstructed in a hook shape curved in a direction of the shaft bracket335.

The fixing rib 3504 may be fixed to one region of the shaft bracket 335to prevent the support portion 350 from moving by at least a specifieddistance in an upper direction (e.g., the +y direction) or in adirection of a flexible display while the electronic device rotates fromthe folded state to the unfolded state.

The shaft bracket 335 includes a fixing region E1. The fixing region E1may be constructed to protrude in a direction of the stopper 360 fromone region of the shaft bracket 335. As the electronic device rotatesfrom the folded state, as illustrated in FIG. 15C, to the unfoldedstate, as illustrated in FIG. 15A, the support portion 350 may move inan upper direction, and the fixing rib 3504 of the support portion 350may be in contact with the fixing region E1 of the shaft bracket 335 dueto the upward movement of the support portion 350.

When the electronic device is in the unfolded state, the hook-shapedfixing rib 3504 may be in contact with a lower region of the fixingregion E1 so that the fixing rib 3504 of the support portion 350 iscaught at the fixing region E1 of the shaft bracket 335. When thesupport portion 350 moves in an upper direction by at least a specifieddistance, pressure may be applied in the upper direction to the flexibledisplay disposed to an upper end of the support portion 350, and someregions of the flexible display may be damaged due to the pressureapplied by the support portion 350. When the electronic device is in theunfolded state, the fixing rib 3504 of the support portion 350 may bedisposed to be in contact with the fixing region E1 of the shaft bracket335 without a gap, so that the support portion 350 can be prevented frommoving in the upper direction by at least a specified distance.

When the electronic device rotates from the unfolded state to the foldedstate, the support portion 350 may move in a lower direction (e.g., the−y direction) due to elastic restoration force of the elastic member 361as described above. Accordingly, the fixing rib 3504 may be spaced apartfrom the fixing region E1 of the shaft bracket 335. As the fixing rib3504 is spaced apart from the fixing region E1 of the shaft bracket 335,the support portion 350 may move in a lower direction without beingaffected by the fixing region E1. That is, the hinge structure 300 b maycontrol the movement of the support portion 350 so that the supportportion 350 moves in an upper direction within a specified range throughthe fixing rib 3504 of the support portion 350 and the fixing region E1of the shaft bracket 335.

FIG. 16 illustrates a hinge assembly fastened to an unfolded electronicdevice according to an embodiment.

Referring to FIG. 16, an electronic device includes the hinge assembly300. The hinge assembly 300 include hinge structures 300 a and 300 b.

The hinge housing 300 c includes a recess to which the hinge structures300 a and 300 b can be disposed. The hinge structures 300 a and 300 bmay be disposed inside the recess of the hinge assembly 300, and thehinge structures 300 a and 300 b may be supported by the hinge housing300 c.

The hinge assembly 300 includes the first hinge structure 300 a disposedto one region of the hinge housing 300 c and the second hinge structure300 b disposed to another region of the hinge housing 300 c. The firsthinge structure 300 a may be disposed to the left region of the hingehousing 300 c, and thus may be coupled (or “connected”) to one region ofa first housing and second housing. The second hinge structure 300 b maybe disposed to the right region of the hinge housing 300 c, and thus maybe coupled (or “connected”) to the first housing and the second housing.The first hinge structure 300 a and the second hinge structure 300 b mayrotate within a specified angle range about a virtual first rotationaxis (e.g., L1) constructed in the hinge housing 300 c and a virtualsecond rotation axis L2 parallel to the virtual first rotation axis L1.One region of the first hinge structure 300 a and one region of thesecond hinge structure 300 b may rotate about the first rotation axisL1, and another region of the first hinge structure 300 a and anotherregion of the second hinge structure 300 b may rotate about the virtualsecond rotation axis L2. That is, the first hinge structure 300 a andthe second hinge structure 300 b may be folded about the virtual firstrotation axis L1 and second rotation axis L2, and details thereof willbe described below. However, the hinge assembly 300 is not limited tothe aforementioned embodiment, and the hinge assembly 300 may includethree or more hinge structures.

The hinge assembly 300 further includes first and second hinge plates300 d and 300 e disposed between the first hinge structure 300 a and thesecond hinge structure 300 b. The first and second hinge plates 300 dand 300 e may be fastened respectively to first and second housing 211and 212, and may support at least some regions of a flexible display.The first and second hinge plates 300 d and 300 e may be constructed ofa metal or non-metal material having a specified rigidity to support theflexible display.

The first and second hinge structures 300 a and 300 b may be disposed atboth sides, e.g., left and right sides, with respect to the supportportion 350. The first and second hinge plates 300 e and 300 d may bedisposed at upper and lower sides with the support portion 350. Thefirst and second arms 321 and 322 and the first and second brackets 311and 312 may be disposed respectively at upper and lower sides withrespect to both ends of the support portion 350.

When the electronic device is unfolded by 180 degrees, movement members,e.g., a cam or a hinge spring, of the first and second hinge structures300 a and 300 b, may be covered respectively by first and secondprotrusion portions 3001 d and 3001 e of the first and second hingeplates.

The support portion 350 is assembled with a cap ‘c’, so that the firstface 350 a of the support portion and an upper face of the cap ‘c’ arein a co-planar state. In this state, the first face 350 a of the supportportion may support a folding region of the flexible display to be flat.

FIG. 17A illustrates a mounting state of a support portion according toan embodiment. FIG. 17B illustrates a perspective view of the supportportion of FIG. 17A, cut along the line C-C′. FIG. 17C illustrates across-sectional view of the support portion of FIG. 17A, cut along theline C-C′.

Referring to FIG. 17A to FIG. 17C, a center portion 3501 of a supportportion 350 may be a portion in which operational interference may occurdue to a movement of an FPCB 226 for electrically coupling first andsecond electronic components disposed respectively to first and secondhousings. In an opening/closing operation of the electronic device, oneportion of the FPCB 226 may be folded or unfolded in a space between ahinge housing 300 c and the center portion 3501. The FPCB 226 may movein the space in the folding and unfolding operation, and the FPCB 226may be interfered with neighboring adjacent portions, e.g., an edgeportion of first and second hinge plates 300 d and 300 e, according tothe movement.

When a width ‘w’ of the center portion 3501 is increased to safelysupport a flexible display, there is a risk in that one portion p1 ofthe FPCB is stamped (e.g., disconnected). To prevent this, the width ‘w’of the center portion 3501 may be limited, and the width ‘w’ may bedetermined by considering a movement trajectory of the FPCB 226 to befolded, in an operation of folding or unfolding the electronic device.For example, the width ‘w’ of the center portion 3501 may beapproximately 2 mm.

An element that can limit the width ‘w’ of the center portion is adistance between first and second rotation axes located at both sides,and the width ‘w’ may be less than a distance between the first andsecond rotation axes.

The center portion 3501 may have a limited thickness ‘t’. The thickness‘t’ of the center portion 3501 may be determined by considering amovement trajectory of the FPCB which is folded or bent in an operationof folding or unfolding the electronic device. For example, thethickness ‘t’ of the center portion 3501 may be approximately 1 mm.

Edge portions 3501 c (e.g., corner portions) of the center portion 3501may be curved. When folding or unfolding the electronic device,operational interference occurs between both edge portions 3501 c andthe FPCB 226, and thus the FPCB may be stamped or disconnected. Toprevent this, the edge portions 3501 c at a lower side of the centerportion 3501 may be curved. For example, each of the edge portions 3501c may have a curvature.

FIG. 18 illustrates a cross-sectional view of the support portion ofFIG. 17A, cut along the line D-D′.

Referring to FIG. 18, a center portion 3501 and a hinge housing 300 cfacing the first and second hinge plates 300 d and 300 e may beconstructed by considering a movement trajectory of the center portion3501 and edge portions 3000 d and 3000 e of the first and second hingeplates 300 d and 300 e adjacent to the center portion 3501. The hingehousing 300 c includes a first opening 3000 c considering a movementtrajectory of the center portion 3501 and a second opening 3001 cconsidering a movement trajectory of the edge portions 3000 d and 3000 eof the hinge plate.

When the electronic device moves from a folded state to an unfoldedstate or moves from the unfolded state to the folded state, the centerportion 3501 may move limitedly in a direction closer to or away fromthe hinge housing 300 c, and the edge portions 3000 d and 3000 e of thefirst and second hinge plates may perform a rotation movement. The firstand second openings 3000 c and 3001 c of the hinge housing may beconstructed by considering a movement space of the center portion 3501and a space of a rotation movement of an edge portion of an FPCB plate.For example, the first opening 3000 c has a recess shape, and extendsalong a direction in which the hinge housing 300 c extends. The secondopening 3001 c has a recess shape, and is constructed to have a smallerdepth than a recessed depth of the first opening 3000 c. A steppedportion 3002 c may be constructed between the first and second openings3000 c and 3001 c. The first opening 3000 c may have the second opening3001 c at both sides, and the second opening 3001 c may be constructedin a symmetric manner.

From a perspective of the presence or absence of the center portion3501, since a distance between the edge portions 3000 d and 3000 e ofthe first and second hinge plates is increased due to the center portion3501, a trajectory drawn by the edge portions 3000 d and 3000 e may bedecreased depending on the operation of opening/closing the electronicdevice. Therefore, a depth of the opening 3001 c constructed at thehinge housing 300 c is decreased, and a support structure of the supportportion 350 capable of supporting the flexible display is extendable tothe maximum extent possible. Accordingly, a support section is alsomovable inwardly, thereby securing rigidity of the hinge housing 300 cand extending the support section.

FIGS. 19A to 19C illustrate a process of opening/closing an electronicdevice according to an embodiment. Specifically, FIG. 19A illustrates a180-degree unfolded state, FIG. 19B illustrates an approximately90-degree open state, and FIG. 19C illustrates a folded state.

Referring to FIG. 19A, when the electronic device is in an unfoldedstate, a center portion 3501 may be located outside a first opening 3000c, and edge portions 3000 d and 3000 e of first and second hinge plates300 d and 300 e may be located inside the second opening 3001 c. Thefirst and second hinge plates 300 d and 300 e may be supported by thehinge housing 300 c. When the electronic device is unfolded by 180degrees, each of the first and second plates 300 d and 300 e is in aparallel state, and the hinge housing 300 c may be a support structureof the first and second hinge plates 300 d and 300 e in the parallelstate.

Referring to FIG. 19B, when the electronic device is in an approximately90-degree unfolded state, the center portion 3501 may be located in thefirst opening 3000 c, and the edge portions 3000 d and 3000 e of thefirst and second hinge plates may be slightly detached from the secondopening 3001 c. The edge portions 3000 d and 3000 e of the respectivefirst and second hinge plates may perform a rotation operation along thesecond opening 3001 c.

Referring to FIG. 19C, when the electronic device is in a folded state,the center portion 3501 may be located in the first opening 3000 c, andthe edge portions 3000 d and 3000 e of the first and second hinge platesmay be completely detached from the second opening 3001 c. The first andsecond hinge plates 300 d and 300 e may be free from interference of thehinge housing 300 c.

FIG. 20A illustrates a mounting state of first and second hinge platesin a 180-degree unfolded electronic device according to an embodiment.FIG. 20B illustrates an enlarged view of a protrusion portion mounted toa support groove of FIG. 20A. FIG. 20C illustrates a cross-sectionalview illustrating a state of FIG. 20B, cut along the line E-E′. FIGS.20D and 20E illustrate perspective views of states of first and secondhinge plates, in a folded electronic device according to an embodiment.

Referring to FIGS. 20A to 20E, a hinge assembly 300 includes first andsecond hinge plates 300 d and 300 e. The first and second hinge plates300 d and 300 e may be a member for covering some components, e.g., ahinge spring and a hinge cam, of the hinge structure to preventinterference of a cam operation and for supporting the flexible displayin a closed state or an open state.

The first and second hinge plates 300 d and 300 e may be fastenedrespectively to first and second housings by a fastener, and the firstand second hinge plates 300 d and 300 e may support some regions of aflexible display. The first and second plates 300 d and 300 e may beconstructed of a metal or non-metal material having a specified rigidityto support the flexible display.

The first and second hinge plates 300 d and 300 e respectively includefirst and second protrusion portions 3001 d and 3001 e.

The first and second protrusion portions 3001 d and 3001 e may besupported by one portion of a support portion 350 when the flexibledisplay is unfolded by 180 degrees, and may be mounted to one portion offirst and second arms 321 and 322 when the flexible display is folded.

The first and second protrusion portions 3001 d and 3001 e may beconstructed in pair symmetrically with respect to the first hinge plate300 d, and may be constructed in pair symmetrically with respect to thesecond hinge plate 300 e. Each of the first and second protrusions 3001d and 3001 e may protrude toward the support portion 350.

When the electronic device is a 180-degree open state, the supportportion 350 may have at least one support groove 3503 constructed tomount the first and second protrusion portions 3001 d and 3001 e, andwhen the electronic device is in a closed state, the first and secondarms 321 and 322 may have at least one or more mounting grooves 3210 and3220 to respectively mount the first and second protrusion portions 3001d and 3001 e. The mounting grooves 3210 and 3220 may be constructed toprevent unnecessary interference in a folded state of the electronicdevice. The mounting grooves 3210 and 3220 may be escape grooves of thefirst and second protrusion portions 3001 d and 3001 e.

The first and second protrusion portions 3001 d and 3001 e may besupported by the support portion 350 by being mounted to the supportgroove 3503 of the support portion 350 in a 180-degree unfolded state,and may be mounted by the mounting grooves 3210 and 3220 constructed atfirst and second arms in a folded state. The first and second protrusionportions 3001 d and 3001 e may overlap the support portion 350 havingthe support groove 3503 in the 180-degree unfolded state, and mayoverlap respectively with the first and second arms 321 and 322 havingthe mounting grooves 3210 and 3220 in the folded state. The supportgroove 3503 may serve as a support of the first and second protrusionportions 3001 d and 3001 e. In the 180-degree unfolded state of theelectronic device, the first and second hinge plates 300 d and 300 e maybe stably supported, and thus the flexible display may also be stablysupported.

Because a support structure of the first and second protrusion portions3001 d and 3001 e and the support groove 3503 is located above a hingespring and a hinge cam, operational interference with the flexibledisplay may be prevented by being covered due to the support structurewhen the hinge spring is compressed or elongated, which occurs in theopening/closing operation of the electronic device.

FIG. 20F illustrates operations of a hinge plate when an electronicdevice rotates from a closed state to an open state according to anembodiment.

Referring to FIG. 20F, when the electronic device is in an approximately90-degree unfolded state, the support portion 350 may be separated fromthe auxiliary member.

When the electronic device rotates from a 90-degree unfolded state to a180-degree unfolded state, the auxiliary members 363 and 364 may performa rotation operation, and the first and second hinge plates 300 d and300 e may perform a rotation operation (operations {circle around (1)}and {circle around (2)}).

The support portion 350 may move to an upper end by a push operation ofthe auxiliary members 363 and 364 (operation {circle around (3)}).

After the first and second hinge plates 300 d and 300 e are in contactwith the support portion 350, the movement may be complete (operation{circle around (4)}). The first and second protrusion portions 3001 dand 3001 e may be mounted to the support groove 3503.

FIGS. 21A to 21C illustrate a support state between first and secondprotrusion portions and a support portion in a process ofopening/closing an electronic device according to an embodiment.Specifically, FIG. 21A illustrates a 180-degree unfolded state, FIG. 21Billustrates a 90-degree folded state, and FIG. 20C illustrates a foldedstate.

Referring to FIG. 21A, when an electronic device is in a 180-degree openstate, first and second protrusion portions 3001 d and 3001 e may bemounted to a support groove 3503, and may maintain a mounting state. Forexample, the first and second protrusion portions 3001 d and 3001 e andthe support groove 3503 may be constructed in substantiallycorresponding shapes. In the 180-degree open state, when the first andsecond protrusion portions 3001 d and 3001 e are mounted to the supportgroove 3503, an outer surface of each of the first and second protrusionportions 3001 d and 3001 e may be in a co-planar state with respect to afirst face of a support portion 350.

Referring to FIG. 21B, when the electronic device is in an approximately45-degree open state, the first and second protrusion portions 3001 dand 3001 e may be disposed to be inclined with respect to the supportportion 350 by being detached from the support groove 3503, and may movedownwardly by means of an elastic body of the support groove 3503. Thefirst and second protrusion portions 3001 d and 3001 e may be separatedrespectively from mounting grooves 3210 and 3220 of the first and secondarms.

Referring to FIG. 21C, when the electronic device is in a closed state,the first and second protrusion portions 3001 d and 3001 e may bedisposed in a vertical direction with respect to the support groove3503, and may be mounted to the mounting grooves 3210 and 3220. Thefirst and second protrusion portions 3001 d and 3001 e may maintainbeing supported by the mounting grooves 3210 and 3220.

FIG. 22A illustrates a cap fastened to a fastening portion of a supportportion according to an embodiment. FIG. 22B illustrates across-sectional view cut along the line G-G′ of FIG. 22A. FIG. 22Cillustrates a perspective view of a cap according to an embodiment.

Referring to FIGS. 22A to 22C, a cap ‘c’ may be coupled to a fasteningportion 3502 of a support portion 350. For example, as a fastening hole,the fastening portion 3502 may include a first stepped portion 35021.The cap ‘c’ has a cap shape corresponding to the fastening portion 3502and includes a second stepped portion c1. When coupled to the fasteningportion 3502, a first face 350 a of the support portion 350 and an upperface c2 of the cap ‘c’ may be in a co-planar state. While folding orunfolding the electronic device, since the first face 350 a of thesupport portion 350 and the upper face c2 of the cap are in theco-planar state, the folding region of a flexible display may besupported when in a 180-degree unfolded state. For example, the cap ‘c’may be a support structure of the flexible display.

FIG. 23A illustrates tape attached to a first face of a support portionaccording to an embodiment. FIG. 23B illustrates a cross-sectional viewcut along the line F-F′ of FIG. 20A of tape attached to a first face ofa support portion according to an embodiment.

Referring to FIGS. 23A and 23B, an adhesive layer ‘b’, e.g., tape, maybe additionally attached to a first face 350 a of a support portion 350.The adhesive layer ‘b’ may be manufactured in the same shape as thefirst surface 350 a and may be attached to the entirety of the firstface 350 a. At least one opening 3507 constructed on the first face 350a of the support portion 350 may be covered by the adhesive layer ‘b’,and the adhesive layer ‘b’ covering the at least one opening 3507 mayprovide a co-planar state, thereby supporting the flexible display. Theadhesive layer attached to the first face 350 a may be part of a supportstructure. The adhesive layer ‘b’ may cover a minute gap which may beproduced when a fastening portion 3502 of the support portion 350 isfastened with the cap ‘c’.

While the disclosure has been particularly shown and described withreference to certain embodiments thereof, it will be understood by thoseof ordinary skill in the art that various changes in form and detailsmay be made therein without departing from the spirit and scope of thedisclosure as defined by the following claims and their equivalents.

What is claimed is:
 1. An electronic device, comprising: a first housingincluding at least one first electronic component; a second housingincluding at least one second electronic component; a hinge housingdisposed between the first and second housings; a hinge assemblyassembled to the hinge housing to rotatably couple the first and secondhousings; first and second hinge plates covering at least part of thehinge assembly and coupled respectively to the first and secondhousings; a flexible printed circuit board (FPCB) electrically couplingthe first and second electronic components via the hinge housing; and aflexible display disposed from one region of the first housing to atleast one region of the second housing across the hinge assembly,wherein the hinge assembly comprises: a first bracket coupled to atleast one region of the first housing to rotate about a virtual firstrotation axis; a second bracket coupled to at least one region of thesecond housing to rotate about a virtual second rotation axis; a fixingbracket supporting the first bracket and the second bracket; and asupport portion including a plurality of support grooves, the supportportion being located between the FPCB and the flexible display, andwherein at least part of the first and second hinge plates is supportedby the support grooves in an unfolded state of the electronic device. 2.The electronic device of claim 1, wherein the support portion has a barshape, and wherein the bar shaped support portion comprises: a firstface facing the flexible display; a second face opposite to the firstface and facing the FPCB; a center portion disposed between a foldingregion of the flexible display and the FPCB; a hook portion constructedat opposite sides of the center portion and constructed on a second faceof the support portion; and an elastic support portion constructed atopposite sides of the hook portion and constructed on the second face ofthe support portion.
 3. The electronic device of claim 2, furthercomprising: a stopper having a through-hole through which an elasticsupport portion of the support portion penetrates; a screw coupled tothe elastic support portion; and an elastic member located between thestopper and the screw and in contact with at least one region of thestopper, wherein the support portion is separated from the flexibledisplay due to restoration force of the elastic member since theelectronic device rotates from the unfolded state to the folded state.4. The electronic device of claim 2, wherein the center portioncomprises: a first face facing the flexible display; and a second facefacing the hinge housing, and wherein the second face of the centerportion has curved edge portions at both sides.
 5. The electronic deviceof claim 4, further comprising a fastening hole between the centerportion and the hook portion, wherein the fastening hole is penetratedby a fastener.
 6. The electronic device of claim 5, further comprising acap assembled to the fastening hole to display a first face of thesupport portion and an upper face of the cap in a co-planar state. 7.The electronic device of claim 6, wherein an adhesive layer is disposedto a first face of the support portion to which the cap is assembled. 8.The electronic device of claim 1, wherein the first and second hingeplates are disposed within a predetermined distance of the supportportion, and wherein first and second protrusion portions are furthercomprised to support the flexible display in the 180-degree unfoldedstate or in the folded state.
 9. The electronic device of claim 8,wherein the first and second protrusion portions are supported by thesupport grooves when the electronic device is unfolded by 180 degrees.10. The electronic device of claim 9, wherein the first and secondprotrusion portions are mounted to the support grooves.
 11. Theelectronic device of claim 10, wherein the support grooves areconstructed between the fastening portion and the elastic supportportion.
 12. The electronic device of claim 9, wherein the hinge housingcomprises: a first opening constructed based on a first movementtrajectory of the center portion; and a second opening constructed basedon a second movement trajectory of an edge portion of the first andsecond hinge plates, adjacent to the support portion, wherein the secondopening is located at each of side of the first opening.
 13. Theelectronic device of claim 12, wherein each of the first and secondopenings has a shape of a groove constructed on an inner face of thehinge housing, and a depth of constructing the second opening is lowerthan a depth of constructing the first opening.
 14. The electronicdevice of claim 1, further comprising: a first shaft rotating about athird rotation axis different from the first rotation axis; a secondshaft adjacent to the first shaft and rotating about a fourth rotationaxis different from the second rotation axis; a first arm coupled to thefirst shaft to rotate about the third rotation axis and having one sidecoupled to at least one region of the first bracket; and a second armcoupled to the second shaft to rotate about the fourth rotation axis andhaving one side coupled to at least one region of the second bracket.15. The electronic device of claim 14, wherein the first and secondprotrusion portions are supported respectively by the first and secondarms, when the electronic device is in the folded state, and wherein thefirst and second arms further include at least one mounting hole formounting the first and second protrusion portions.
 16. The electronicdevice of claim 14, wherein the first arm includes a first support ribsupporting at least one region of the support portion, when theelectronic device is in a folded state, wherein the second arm includesa second support rib supporting at least one region of the supportportion, when the electronic device is in the folded state, and whereinthe first support rib and the second support rib move the supportportion in a direction of the flexible display, when the electronicdevice rotates from the folded state to the unfolded state.
 17. Theelectronic device of claim 14, further comprising: a first auxiliarymember coupled to the first shaft to rotate about the third rotationaxis and including a third support rib; and a second auxiliary membercoupled to the second shaft to rotate about the fourth rotation axis andincluding a fourth support rib, wherein the third support rib and thefourth support rib move the support portion in a direction of theflexible display, when the electronic device rotates from the foldedstate to the unfolded state.
 18. An electronic device, comprising: afirst housing including at least one first electronic component; asecond housing including at least one second electronic component; ahinge housing disposed between the first and second housings; a hingeassembly assembled to the hinge housing to rotatably couple the firstand second housings; first and second hinge plates fastened respectivelyto the first and second housings and covering at least part of the hingeassembly; a flexible printed circuit board (FPCB) electrically couplingthe first and second electronic components via the hinge housing; and aflexible display disposed from one region of the first housing to atleast one region of the second housing across the hinge assembly,wherein the hinge assembly includes a support portion located betweenthe FPCB and the flexible display, and wherein the first and secondplates comprise first and second protrusion portions, respectively,which are mounted by the first and second arms when the electronicdevice is in a folded state and supported by the support portion whenthe electronic device is unfolded by 180 degrees.
 19. The electronicdevice of claim 18, wherein the support portion further includes aplurality of support groves on which first and second protrusionportions are mounted, and wherein the first and second arms furtherinclude first and second mounting grooves on which the first and secondprotrusions are mounted.
 20. The electronic device of claim 18, whereineach of the first and second protrusion portions protrudes toward thesupport portion.
 21. An electronic device, comprising: a first housing;a second housing; a hinge assembly assembling the first housing and thesecond housing so that the second housing is rotatable about the firsthousing; first and second hinge plates fastened respectively to thefirst and second housings and covering at least part of the hingeassembly; and a flexible display disposed from one region of the firsthousing to at least one region of the second housing across the hingeassembly, wherein the hinge assembly comprises: a first hinge structureincluding a first bracket coupled to at least one region of the firsthousing to rotate about a virtual first rotation axis, and a secondbracket coupled to at least one region of the second housing to rotateabout a virtual second rotation axis; a second hinge structure includinga third bracket spaced apart from the first hinge structure and coupledto at least one region of the first housing to rotate about the virtualfirst rotation axis, and a fourth bracket coupled to at least one regionof the second housing to rotate about the virtual second rotation axis;and a support portion having a plurality of groves constructed thereonand coupled to at least one portion of the first and second hingestructures, wherein at least one portion of the first and second hingeplates is supported by the grooves in an unfolded state of theelectronic device.
 22. The electronic device of claim 21, whereinopposite ends of the support portion are respectively coupled to thefirst and second hinge structures.
 23. The electronic device of claim21, further comprising a hinge housing constructed to accommodate atleast one portion of the hinge structure.
 24. The electronic device ofclaim 23, further comprising a flexible printed circuit board (FPCB)disposed to at least one portion between the hinge housing and thesupport portion.